Taliban detain two Afghan staff members of UN political mission

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have detained two Afghan employees of the UN political mission in the country, the United Nations said yesterday (12 August).

The Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence detained the two staff members in the western city of Herat on Sunday (9 August), UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters at the UN. He said the mission has not been informed about any charges against the men and has not been allowed to visit them.

The UN mission has urged the Taliban "to ensure compliance with the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its officials," Haq said.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on 15 August, 2021, as US and Nato forces withdrew following two decades of war.

After seizing power, the Taliban banned girls from attending secondary schools and later expanded restrictions to higher education, employment and other areas, effectively shutting women and girls out of public life.

The UN mission's mandate from the Security Council includes supporting humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people, promoting human rights and equality for women and girls, encouraging inclusive governance and supporting economic stability.

The detention comes as the humanitarian crisis in the impoverished Asian country continues to worsen and Taliban forces are involved in cross-border fighting with Pakistan. The clashes intensified in February after Afghan forces carried out a raid into Pakistan in response to Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan. Islamabad later said it was in "open war."

Fereshta Abbasi, an Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the detention "seriously threatens the UN's work throughout Afghanistan and its ability to deliver lifesaving aid."

"Taliban authorities should immediately release those held and ensure all aid agencies can work without intimidation or interference," she said.