Afghanistan’s Taliban releases 2 UN staffers

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have released two United Nations staff members whom they detained more than a week ago, the UN said on Thursday, adding that the reason for the two men’s detention remains unclear.

The arrests were the latest in a series of detentions by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities. Last week, the advocacy group Human Rights Watch said six staff members of a local organisation working on women’s and children’s rights had been “forcibly disappeared” for more than a month.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said its two employees, who were detained in the western city of Herat on August 9, were released Thursday morning and appeared to be in good health.

“UNAMA has not been formally notified of the reasons for their arrest and detention and continues to follow up with the de facto authorities,” the UN said in a statement, adding that it understood that the charges against the two had been dropped. It said the organisation was also following up “to ensure respect for the privileges and immunities of the United Nations, as well as the safety, security, and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel throughout the country.” Afghan authorities did not immediately comment on the UN staff members’ release. 

The UN mission’s mandate from the UN Security Council includes promoting and supporting humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, promoting human rights, equality for women and girls, inclusive governance and economic stability.

On August 12, Human Rights Watch said six senior members from the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation were detained on July 18 after they were told to come to their office to retrieve laptops and phones confiscated during a raid on the organisation’s offices about a month earlier.