The Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence detained two Afghan staff members of the UN political mission in Herat on Sunday, the UN said Wednesday. UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the mission has not been told the charges against the men or allowed to visit them, and has called on the Taliban to respect UN privileges and immunities.
The detentions come amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and escalating cross-border fighting between Afghan and Pakistani forces, which intensified after Afghan forces raided Pakistan in February. Human Rights Watch researcher Fereshta Abbasi said the detentions seriously threaten the UN's ability to deliver aid across Afghanistan and called for the men's immediate release.
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