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Taliban authorities in Afghanistan released two UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) staff members on Thursday after detaining them in the western city of Herat on August 9, the UN announced.

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan released two UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) staff members on Thursday after detaining them in the western city of Herat on August 9, the UN announced.

At a press conference, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric expressed the organization's relief at the development, adding that the pair appeared to be in good health and that the charges against them had been dropped.

At a press conference, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric expressed the organization's relief at the development, adding that the pair appeared to be in good health and that the charges against them had been dropped.

Officials from Afghanistan's General Directorate of Intelligence detained the individuals in question and initially declined to inform UNAMA of the charges levelled against them, nor did the authorities allow the aid mission to visit them.

Officials from Afghanistan's General Directorate of Intelligence detained the individuals in question and initially declined to inform UNAMA of the charges levelled against them, nor did the authorities allow the aid mission to visit them.

Dujarric confirmed that the UN was still to be formally notified of the reasons for the two staff members' arrest and was continuing to engage with Taliban authorities, including seeking assurances that its privileges, immunities and freedom of movement would be respected.

Dujarric confirmed that the UN was still to be formally notified of the reasons for the two staff members' arrest and was continuing to engage with Taliban authorities, including seeking assurances that its privileges, immunities and freedom of movement would be respected.

The detentions were part of a pattern of arrests days before the Taliban marked the fifth anniversary of its return to power, with Human Rights Watch announcing after the arrests went public that the Taliban had detained six aid workers in July and had held them for roughly a month.

The detentions were part of a pattern of arrests days before the Taliban marked the fifth anniversary of its return to power, with Human Rights Watch announcing after the arrests went public that the Taliban had detained six aid workers in July and had held them for roughly a month.

Separately, Dujarric noted that 73 UN colleagues also remain detained in Yemen by Houthi forces, declaring that the organization continues "to do everything we can to seek their immediate release."

Separately, Dujarric noted that 73 UN colleagues also remain detained in Yemen by Houthi forces, declaring that the organization continues "to do everything we can to seek their immediate release."

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Taliban authorities in Afghanistan released two UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) staff members on Aug. 21 after detaining them in the western city of Herat on Aug. 9. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed the two appeared to be in good health and that charges against them had been dropped.

Associated Press

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan released two UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) staff members on Aug. 21 after detaining them in the western city of Herat on Aug. 9. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed the two appeared to be in good health and that charges against them had been dropped.

UNAMA said it had not been formally notified of the reasons for the two staff members' arrest or detention and was continuing to engage with Taliban authorities. The UN also sought assurances that its privileges, immunities and freedom of movement would be respected.

UNAMA said it had not been formally notified of the reasons for the two staff members' arrest or detention and was continuing to engage with Taliban authorities. The UN also sought assurances that its privileges, immunities and freedom of movement would be respected.

The detentions of the two UNAMA staff members were part of a broader pattern of arrests by Taliban authorities and became public days before the Taliban marked the fifth anniversary of their return to power.

Jerusalem Post

The detentions of the two UNAMA staff members were part of a broader pattern of arrests by Taliban authorities and became public days before the Taliban marked the fifth anniversary of their return to power.

Separately, six male staff members of the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation were detained in Kabul on July 18 after being summoned to collect confiscated devices following a June 21 raid on their office. Human Rights Watch reported their whereabouts remained unknown as of Aug. 21.

Separately, six male staff members of the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation were detained in Kabul on July 18 after being summoned to collect confiscated devices following a June 21 raid on their office. Human Rights Watch reported their whereabouts remained unknown as of Aug. 21.

Human Rights Watch called on the Taliban to immediately release the six detained foundation staff members and provide information on their condition and location. The organization's former director, Zarqa Yaftali, said families of the missing men were "living in constant fear and uncertainty."

Rferl

Human Rights Watch called on the Taliban to immediately release the six detained foundation staff members and provide information on their condition and location. The organization's former director, Zarqa Yaftali, said families of the missing men were "living in constant fear and uncertainty."

UN spokesperson Dujarric also noted that 73 UN colleagues remain detained in Yemen by Houthi forces, saying the organization continues "to do everything we can to seek their immediate release." UNAMA, established in 2002, operates under a UN Security Council mandate covering humanitarian assistance and human rights.

UN spokesperson Dujarric also noted that 73 UN colleagues remain detained in Yemen by Houthi forces, saying the organization continues "to do everything we can to seek their immediate release." UNAMA, established in 2002, operates under a UN Security Council mandate covering humanitarian assistance and human rights.

The Taliban's detention of UN staff in Herat — with no explanation given — is a glaring sign of how little regard the group has for international law or the safety of humanitarian workers. Dropping charges without explanation doesn't make up for the violation; it just shows how arbitrary Taliban authority really is. Pair that with the enforced disappearances of women's rights workers and the pattern becomes impossible to ignore.

The Taliban's detention of UN staff in Herat — with no explanation given — is a glaring sign of how little regard the group has for international law or the safety of humanitarian workers. Dropping charges without explanation doesn't make up for the violation; it just shows how arbitrary Taliban authority really is. Pair that with the enforced disappearances of women's rights workers and the pattern becomes impossible to ignore.

The Islamic Emirate has been clear that protecting aid workers — not undermining them — is a core obligation of its security forces. The real problem is outside actors injecting political agendas into what should be purely humanitarian work, which only complicates the environment on the ground. Humanitarian progress in Afghanistan depends on separating aid from political pressure campaigns.

The Islamic Emirate has been clear that protecting aid workers — not undermining them — is a core obligation of its security forces. The real problem is outside actors injecting political agendas into what should be purely humanitarian work, which only complicates the environment on the ground. Humanitarian progress in Afghanistan depends on separating aid from political pressure campaigns.

Afghanistan

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Freedom & human rights

The Taliban's arbitrary detention of two UN staffers in Herat — with no explanation given — is a glaring sign of how little regard the group has for international law or the safety of humanitarian workers. Despite dropping the charges, this pattern of behavior, once paired with the militant group's enforced disappearances of women's rights workers and aid staff, becomes impossible to ignore.

The Taliban's arbitrary detention of two UN staffers in Herat — with no explanation given — is a glaring sign of how little regard the group has for international law or the safety of humanitarian workers. Despite dropping the charges, this pattern of behavior, once paired with the militant group's enforced disappearances of women's rights workers and aid staff, becomes impossible to ignore.

The Islamic Emirate has made it clear that protecting aid workers — not undermining them — is a core obligation of its security forces. The real problem is outside actors injecting political agendas into what should be purely humanitarian work, which only complicates the environment on the ground. Humanitarian progress in Afghanistan depends on separating aid from political pressure campaigns.

The Islamic Emirate has made it clear that protecting aid workers — not undermining them — is a core obligation of its security forces. The real problem is outside actors injecting political agendas into what should be purely humanitarian work, which only complicates the environment on the ground. Humanitarian progress in Afghanistan depends on separating aid from political pressure campaigns.

Taliban Frees UN Staff After 11-Day Detention in Herat

Taliban releaseFrees twoUN detainedStaff UNAfter staff11-Day membersDetention in AfghanistanHerat

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Taliban Frees UN Staff After 11-Day Detention in Herat

Taliban releaseFrees twoUN detainedStaff UNAfter staff11-Day membersDetention in AfghanistanHerat

The Spin

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