UN Mission Demands Answers as Taliban Detain Two Afghan Staff in Herat

The United Nations has confirmed that two of its Afghan male staff members were detained on Sunday, August 9, by officials from the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence in Herat province.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan stated it has not been informed of any charges and has been denied access to the detained personnel.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s spokesman, Farhan Haq, said, “we have not been informed of the charges against them or permitted to see them,” and called on “the de facto authorities to ensure compliance with the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its officials”. The Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the arrests.

The detentions come just days before the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power, a period marked by tightening social controls and prior arrests of aid workers.

In June, roughly 20 aid workers were arrested in Herat over beard length, and dozens of women were detained for dress code violations.

The incident places further strain on UNAMA operations, as the mission continues to face restrictions, including a ban on Afghan women entering its offices.

The UN had recently called on authorities to clarify rules on arrests and detention.