MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, April 7 (Xinhua) — Some six persons, including four women, were stabbed to death Wednesday night in northern Afghan province of Balkh, a police official said Thursday.

“The victims were members of the same family and the incident took place in Shir Abad village, Dihdadi District, southwestern of provincial capital of Mazar-i-Sharif city,” Abdul Rizaq Qadiri told Xinhua.

“The motive behind the incident may has been a family dispute, or a possible ‘honor killing’ as the initial information found that the culprits were relatives of the victims,” the police official noted.

An investigation was launched into the incident and further information would be made public afterwards, he noted.

The situation of women in the post-Taliban Afghanistan has been improving over the past decade.

However, domestic violence against women is still prevalent, particularly in the rural areas, due to tribal customs and patriarchy in the communities in remote villages.