The Taliban arrested 40 people in Balkh on charges of leaving the country illegally

A deputy Taliban spokesman said the group had detained 40 people in Balkh province who wanted to leave the country illegally by air.

Enamullah Samangani, the Taliban’s deputy spokesman, wrote on his Twitter page that the 40 men had been detained at an airport in Balkh province, and that the men had been released after re-interrogation.

But according to him, the detained women are still in detention due to the absence of their heirs.

The deputy Taliban spokesman did not provide further details.