World · World News Bureau
Taliban releases two UN staff members held in western Afghanistan
Two United Nations personnel detained in the western city of Herat since mid-August have been released by Taliban authorities. The two men were freed Thursday morning after more than a week in custody.
LSN World News ·
The two UN staff members were apprehended in Herat on August 9 and held by Taliban forces for approximately eight days before their release Thursday, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The identities and specific roles of the detained personnel were not immediately disclosed. The circumstances surrounding their initial detention also remained unclear, though the Taliban has previously held UN workers during periods of heightened tensions with the international organization.
The release comes as the Taliban consolidates its control over Afghanistan following its takeover of the country in August 2021. The interim government has engaged in periodic disputes with UN agencies operating in the country, particularly regarding humanitarian operations and the organization's monitoring of human rights conditions.
The UN maintains a significant presence in Afghanistan despite the political transition, coordinating humanitarian assistance and development programs across the war-affected nation. The organization has previously called for the safe passage and protection of its personnel operating in Taliban-controlled territory.