SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Taliban militants lashed two women over telephonic relationship with men in Darzab district of northern Jawzjan province, an official said on Sunday.

Provincial deputy police chief Col. Kamaluddin Yarwar told Pajhwok Afghan News the Taliban whipped the two women in Qazal Qashlaq village of the district.

He said the incident occurred around three kilometers from the district center in an area was under Taliban control.

Baz Mohammad, a resident of the area, confirmed the incident and told Pajhwok the lashed women were bread-earners of their families and worked outside home.

He said the two women were punished after as per recommendation of Qazal Qashlaq village’s mosque prayer leader.

He further said husbands of the two women were in Iran and they were not aware of the incident.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he was unaware about the incident and promised to investigate it.

pk/ma