The Taliban have shot dead a girl in Balkh district

Security officials in Balkh say a young girl has been shot dead by Taliban fighters in Balkh district.

Adel Shah Adel, spokesman for the Balkh police, said Taliban fighters shot a girl in the village of Samarkandian in Balkh district yesterday afternoon for not wearing a headscarf.

Mr Adel named the girl “Nazanin” and added that she had been shot dead by a Taliban member while riding in a car.

But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the allegations in a statement.

Balkh district of Balkh province has been under the control of Taliban fighters for some time.