Afghanistan conflict: Female judges shot dead in Kabul

The assassinations are the latest in a string targeting women in high-profile jobs (file photo)

Two women judges working for the Afghan Supreme Court have been shot dead.

They were killed by unidentified gunmen on their way to work on Sunday. The deaths are the latest in a string of assassinations targeting journalists, activists and other political figures.

The violence comes as President Donald Trump continues a drawdown of US troops in the country - with only 2,500 left.

The Afghan vice-president told the BBC this week that the pull-out risks more violence in an unstable country.

What happened on Sunday?

The women were shot dead in an early morning ambush, which also saw their driver wounded.

The incident happened in the Qala-e-Fathullah area of Kabul and no group has said it carried out the attack.

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Suspicion has fallen on the Taliban for recent assassinations, but the militants have not acknowledged carrying them out.

The targeted killings have carried on despite ongoing peace talks being held between the representatives of the Taliban and the Afghan government in Doha.

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