Taliban Detain Two UN Mission Staffers in Herat Amid Rising Restrictions

The Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence detained two Afghan men who work for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in the western city of Herat. UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the United Nations has not been informed of any charges and has been denied access to the detainees for two days. He urged the Taliban to respect the privileges and immunities granted to UN personnel and to uphold their special status.

Two UN Staff Members Detained by Taliban Intelligence in Herat: AFP Afghanistan's Taliban rulers detain two members of the UN political mission

The arrests occurred just days before the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s seizure of Kabul in August 2021. Since taking power, the group has imposed extensive restrictions on education, employment, and public life for women and girls, and has increasingly constrained aid operations. Earlier in June, Taliban morality police detained about 20 aid workers near the Iranian border over beard length and later released them; dozens of women were also held for alleged dress violations. UN agencies continue to provide humanitarian assistance across Afghanistan, but face mounting obstacles as the country grapples with severe economic and humanitarian pressures.

Two UN Staff Members Detained by Taliban Intelligence in Herat: AFP Afghanistan's Taliban rulers detain two members of the UN political mission

UNAMA issued a report this week calling on Afghan authorities to clarify the rules governing the use of force, arrests, and detention by security institutions, and to strengthen accountability. The Taliban’s intelligence agency has not commented on the specific detentions. The United Nations has formally requested that the Taliban release the two staff members and ensure that all aid agencies can operate without intimidation or interference.

Two UN Staff Members Detained by Taliban Intelligence in Herat: AFP Afghanistan's Taliban rulers detain two members of the UN political mission

The incident highlights growing tensions between the Taliban and international humanitarian actors. Restrictions on UN staff undermine the mission’s mandate to support humanitarian assistance, human-rights promotion, and inclusive governance, potentially exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers detain two members of the UN political mission