Two Afghan staff members of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) were detained by Islamic Emirate officials on Sunday, August 9, in Afghanistan’s western city of Herat, according to Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.

Speaking at the UN’s noon briefing, Haq said UNAMA had not been informed of the charges against the two staff members and had not been permitted to visit them.

“UNAMA has called on the de facto authorities to ensure compliance with the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its officials,” Haq said.

He added that UNAMA operates under a clear mandate from the UN Security Council and is engaging with the de facto authorities regarding the detentions.

Haq said there was no further update on the situation at the time of the briefing and that the UN would provide updates on any developments.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not yet commented on the situation.

Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, has invited Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to attend an event marking the Islamic Emirate’s return to power.

The invitation was extended during a meeting between Shakeeb and Fazlur Rehman, where the two discussed Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and the regional security situation, local media reported.

The meeting comes amid strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul, with both sides exchanging views on ways to improve bilateral cooperation and ease existing tensions.

Shakeeb and Fazlur Rehman also discussed developments affecting regional security and stressed the need for greater cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

The Afghan envoy and the JUI-F chief emphasised the importance of maintaining communication channels and strengthening engagement between Islamabad and Kabul at a time of repeated friction in bilateral relations.

The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation and exploring ways to reduce tensions between the two countries.