The Trump administration on Monday designated Afghanistan as a state sponsor of wrongful detention – a transfer meant to discourage the Taliban from abducting Americans.
It is the second nation to be designated as such, and the announcement comes on Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day. The administration designated Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detention the day earlier than it launched military operations towards the nation.
“The Taliban continues to use terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or to seek policy concessions,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a press release Monday.
“These despicable tactics need to end,” he stated.
“It is not safe for Americans to travel to Afghanistan because the Taliban continues to unjustly detain our fellow Americans and other foreign nationals,” Rubio continued.
“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,” he stated.
Habibi was detained in August 2022. The Taliban has by no means acknowledged holding him. The State Department is providing as much as $5 million for data resulting in his location, restoration and protected return.
Habibi’s brother, Ahmad Habibi, stated he met with Sebastian Gorka and particular envoy Adam Boehler on Monday “and both gave me assurances that President Trump will not leave my brother behind.”
“The Taliban need to admit what we already know – that they have my brother – so we can move forward in bringing him home to his wife and young daughter. The Taliban should not be defying President Trump as he seeks to bring home Americans to their family,” he stated.
Coyle was detained in January 2025. His household stated he has not been charged with against the law and has been held in solitary confinement.
The designation creates the chance for the US to impose journey restrictions for Afghanistan.
There is such a journey restriction in place for North Korea. The US doesn’t permit its residents to journey to North Korea on US passports with out an permitted exception, and in these instances, the State Department points a “special validation passport.”
Several Americans detained in Afghanistan have been launched final yr – George Glezmann, Ryan Corbett, William McKenty, and Amir Amiry.