Taliban holding at least 9 foreigners in Kabul, including 1 American
The Taliban are holding at least nine foreigners in custody in Kabul, including "one American and several British citizens," The Wall Street Journal reports Friday, per sources familair with the situation.
Among those being held are British reporter Andrew North — a freelance journalist formerly with the BBC — and an Irish photographer "who were in Kabul on assignment for the United Nations' refugee agency, UNHCR." The two were recently detained alongside the Afghan journalist and Afghan driver they were working with, adds the Journal.
"We are doing our utmost to resolve the situation, in coordination with others. We will make no further comment given the nature of the situation," the U.N. said in a statement on the matter, per The New York Times.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Since December, seven other Westerners have been detained by the Taliban, including one American, adds the Journal. The six others are British citizens. All were detained separately, and most had worked in the security sector, sources told the Journal.
"These are the first known cases of Westerners detained at length in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August," the Journal notes.
The detentions could also serve to further inflame tensions between the Taliban and the West, as well as potentially complicate the militant group's "attempts to seek legitimacy with countries that have maintained crippling economic sanctions since the former government collapsed," adds the Times.
"I don't know whether we are seeing some organized collective crackdown or whether you just have some individual situations, but it's certainly concerning any time individuals with valid foreign credentials are detained," Mark Jacobson, who worked as deputy NATO representative in Afghanistan, told the Journal, "whether it's a government that recognizes international convention or the Taliban."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published