Taliban Governor in Faryab Seizes UNAMA Office Assets amid Closure Plans

DID Press: Taliban-appointed governor of Faryab province has prevented the transfer of equipment from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) office to Balkh province and seized the assets. This move comes as UNAMA had planned to close its Faryab office due to budget cuts.

Local sources in Faryab reported that Abdul Ahad Fazli, the Taliban governor, confiscated the UNAMA office equipment when staff attempted to move it on Monday, (Dec. 1).

UNAMA had decided to shut its Faryab office by the end of the year because of reduced funding. However, the Taliban governor not only blocked the transfer but also seized the equipment. Neither UN officials nor Taliban authorities have publicly commented on the incident so far.

The incident occurs amid ongoing disagreements between the Taliban and UNAMA over the content of UN reports, particularly on human rights and the status of women. Taliban officials have described these reports as “inaccurate,” “biased,” and based on “unreliable sources,” while UNAMA maintains that its findings are grounded in field investigations and multiple interviews.

Additionally, Afghanistan faces a massive humanitarian crisis, with 22.9 million people requiring aid in 2025. This has been another point of contention between the Taliban and the UN. The UN Security Council has indicated that Taliban policies have hindered the delivery of assistance, a claim the Taliban rejects.