Afghanistan's intelligence agency has detained two Afghan male employees of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA said Tuesday. The General Directorate of Intelligence detained the staff members in western Herat province on Sunday, August 9, according to UNAMA. The UN said it had been unable to contact or visit the two employees for two days.

The office of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the detainees' special status and privileges to be respected. Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the UN had not been informed of any allegations against them and had not been granted permission to see them. The Afghan government did not immediately comment to AFP.

The detentions occurred days before the fifth anniversary of the Taliban's return to power after taking Kabul on August 15, 2021. UNAMA this week recommended that authorities clarify security agencies' use of force, arrests and detentions, while increasing accountability. Several UN agencies operate across Afghanistan in areas including health and humanitarian assistance.