U.S. Designates Afghanistan a ‘State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention’

AP

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The United States designated Afghanistan a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” urging the Taliban to release Americans currently held in the country.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation on Tuesdau, saying the Taliban’s continued detention of American citizens is unacceptable and calling for their immediate release.

“Today, I am designating Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” Rubio said in a statement on X. “The Taliban continue to use terrorist tactics to seek policy concessions, but it won’t work under this administration. The Taliban must release Dennis Coyle, Mahmood Habibi, and all Americans unjustly detained in Afghanistan.”

The U.S. State Department also warned that Afghanistan is not safe for American travelers because of the risk of detention by Taliban.

“It is not safe for Americans to travel to Afghanistan because the Taliban continues to unjustly detain our fellow Americans and other foreign nationals,” the department said in a statement. “The Taliban needs to release Dennis Coyle, Mahmoud Habibi, and all Americans unjustly detained in Afghanistan now and commit to cease the practice of hostage diplomacy forever.”

Adam Boehler, the U.S. special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, said Washington would no longer tolerate the detention of American citizens by foreign governments.

In a post on X, Boehler said three American citizens are currently being held in Afghanistan and called for their release.

“We’ve told the Taliban that hostage diplomacy is unacceptable. We meant it,” Boehler wrote. “Today we are designating Afghanistan a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention. Harsh consequences will follow.”

He said Afghanistan could face serious consequences if the detainees are not released.

The Taliban have previously said that foreign nationals detained in Afghanistan are held in accordance with the country’s laws.



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