KABUL: Afghan Taliban on Saturday raided International Assistance Mission (IAM), a Swiss-registered NGO, office in Ghor province and arrested its 18 staff members.
The IAM confirmed the incident said the staffers were picked up from its office in Ghor province and taken to the capital Kabul. The nature of the allegations against the detained staff is unknown, and IAM has stated it will independently review any evidence presented if charges are made.
Spokesmen for the Taliban authorities were not immediately available for comment.
IAM is operating in Afghanistan since 1966, offers various services, including healthcare and education, based on Christian values but without political or religious bias.
The Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law has led to the detention of several foreigners and imposed restrictions on women’s education and work in NGOs and the United Nations.
Its website describes the organisation as based on Christian values but says it does not provide aid according to political or religious belief.
“We value and respect local customs and cultures,” the group said in its statement.
An unknown number of foreigners — including several Westerners — have been detained by the Taliban authorities since the group’s return to power in August 2021.
The Taliban rulers have imposed sweeping restrictions on the population they say are in line with their strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law — including barring women from working for NGOs and the United Nations.
