Taliban Detain Two UN Staff in Herat, Afghanistan

The United Nations confirmed on Wednesday that Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have detained two Afghan staff members of its political mission, a move that officials warn could severely hamper humanitarian operations in a country facing a deepening crisis. The detentions occurred in the western city of Herat on August 9, just days before the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's return to power.

According to UN officials, the two men were taken into custody by the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, known as UNAMA, stated it had not been informed of any charges against the employees and had been denied access to them for several days. The mission has formally called on the Taliban to respect the privileges and immunities of UN personnel.

The arrests come amid a pattern of increasing pressure on aid workers and international organizations operating in Afghanistan. In June, approximately 20 employees of aid groups were detained near the Iranian border in Herat by Taliban morality police over allegations of having beards that were too short. Some of those individuals worked for organizations partnering with the UN....