KABUL: Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have detained 18 staff members including a foreigner of a Swiss-registered NGO, the group said on Saturday.
The International Assistance Mission (IAM) said that the staffers were picked up from the NGO’s office in Ghor province, central Afghanistan, and taken to the capital Kabul.
“At this time, we have no information about the nature of allegations against our staff and are, therefore, unable to comment or speculate about this ongoing situation,” as stated in issued statement.
“However, should any charges be lodged against our organisation or any individual staff member, we will independently review any evidence presented in the event.”
As of now, spokespersons for the Taliban authorities have not made themselves available for comment regarding this matter.
IAM has been operational in Afghanistan since 1966, originally specializing in eye care but later expanding its scope to encompass various aspects of healthcare and education. While the organization describes itself as rooted in Christian values, it emphasizes that its aid is not distributed based on political or religious beliefs. Furthermore, IAM’s statement underlines its respect for local customs and cultures.
Since the Taliban’s resurgence to power in August 2021, an unspecified number of foreigners, including several Western individuals, have been detained by the Taliban authorities.
The Taliban has imposed extensive restrictions on the Afghan population, which they claim are aligned with their strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. These restrictions include the prohibition of women from working for NGOs and the United Nations.
Teenage girls and women are also excluded from schools, universities, and various aspects of public social life.
