KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has confirmed that two Afghan staff members of the mission were detained by Taliban intelligence authorities in Herat province.
UNAMA told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that it had been unable to access the two staff members for the past two days.
UNAMA confirmed that two of its Afghan male staff members were detained by Taliban intelligence authorities in Herat on Sunday, August 9.
UNAMA said it had not been informed of the allegations against the two employees and had not been granted permission to meet with them.
Local Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the detention.
UNAMA called on the Taliban authorities to “ensure that the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its officials are respected.”
The detention comes amid growing restrictions and pressure on humanitarian workers in Afghanistan. In June, around 20 employees of aid organizations were detained near the Iranian border in Herat by Taliban officials from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice over allegedly having beards that were considered too short.
According to an internal memo seen by AFP, some of those detained worked for organizations cooperating with the United Nations. They were later released.
The Taliban have also imposed strict restrictions on women’s work and movement, affecting the operations of UN agencies and other international organizations. The group has barred female UN staff members from entering UN offices in Afghanistan.
UNAMA’s findings come as the mission has raised broader concerns about accountability within the Taliban’s security institutions.
In a 38-page report published on August 10, ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power, UNAMA said the authorities have established mechanisms to address misconduct by security personnel, but many complaints remain unresolved. The mission said a lack of transparency over investigations and disciplinary actions, along with fear of reprisals and limited trust in Taliban institutions, continues to weaken accountability.
However, while the Taliban claim to have restored security and stability across Afghanistan since returning to power, reports of crime, arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses continue to emerge. Anti-Taliban armed groups have also carried out attacks against Taliban security forces in several parts of the country, challenging the group’s claims of having established lasting security.
