UNHCR say Taliban free detained staff, 2 foreign journalists

By KATHY GANNON
Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — UNHCR says the Taliban freed two foreign journalists working with the U.N. refugee agency and several of the aid organization’s Afghan staff. The announcement followed a tweet by the deputy minister of culture and communication Zabihullah Mujahid who said they had been detained because they did not have documents that properly identified them as UNHCR. Mujahid said they were freed after their identities were confirmed. The development in Kabul comes as President Joe Biden was expected to issue an executive order that would allow U.S. financial institutions to facilitate access to $3.5 billion of assets for Afghan aid.