Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

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2 UN staff released after detention in Afghanistan

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Afghanistan-based anti-NATO terrorism by 2027

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

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

At a press conference, U.N. 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, U.N. 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 leveled 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 leveled against them, nor did the authorities allow the aid mission to visit them.

Dujarric confirmed that the U.N. was still to be formally notified of the reasons for the 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 U.N. was still to be formally notified of the reasons for the 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 U.N. colleagues also remain detained in Yemen by Houthi forces, declaring that the organization was continuing "to do everything we can to seek their immediate release."

Separately, Dujarric noted that 73 U.N. colleagues also remain detained in Yemen by Houthi forces, declaring that the organization was continuing "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 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.

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."

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

Sanaullah SEIAM / AFP via Getty Images

Taliban Frees UN Staff After 11-Day Detention in Herat

Afghanistan

Politics

Freedom & human rights

The Taliban's arbitrary detention of two U.N. 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 U.N. 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.

There's a 25% chance that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan will be used as a base for anti-NATO terrorism before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 25% chance that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan will be used as a base for anti-NATO terrorism before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Taliban Frees UN Staff After 11-Day Detention in Herat

Taliban Frees UN Staff After 11-Day Detention in Herat

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

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Taliban Frees UN Staff After 11-Day Detention in Herat

Taliban Frees UN Staff After 11-Day Detention in Herat

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Metaculus Prediction

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