U.S. labels Taliban‑led Afghanistan as ‘state sponsor of wrongful detention’ amid hostage concerns

The United States has designated Afghanistan a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention”, accusing the Taliban of holding American citizens to gain political concessions and demanding the immediate release of detained Americans.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington had formally designated Afghanistan as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention”, accusing the de-facto Afghan authorities of using detained Americans as diplomatic leverage.

Rubio announced the decision on social media platform X, saying the move reflects concerns that Americans are being held to pressure Washington.

He wrote, “Today, I am designating Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention. The Taliban continue to use terrorist tactics to seek policy concessions, but it won’t work under this administration.”

Rubio called on the Taliban to release Dennis Coyle, Mahmood Habibi, and other Americans detained in Afghanistan.

In a statement published on the U.S. Department of State website, Rubio said the practice of detaining foreigners for leverage must end.

He said, “The Taliban continues to use terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or to seek policy concessions. These despicable tactics need to end.”

Rubio added that Afghanistan is unsafe for Americans to travel to because of the risk of detention. He urged the Taliban to release all detained Americans “now and commit to cease the practice of hostage diplomacy forever.”

At the United Nations Security Council, U.S. representative Mike Waltz also criticised the Taliban authorities.

Waltz said Washington’s main concern in Afghanistan remains the safety of Americans.

He said, “The United States’ top priority in Afghanistan remains the protection of U.S. citizens and of the U.S. homeland, which includes mitigating terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan and securing the release of all those unjustly detained.”

Warning of consequences

The U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler warned that Washington will not tolerate countries detaining American citizens.

He wrote on X, “The United States will no longer tolerate any nation holding U.S. citizens. Afghanistan currently holds three innocent Americans. It is time to release them.”

Boehler added in a statement that the designation signals potential consequences.

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

According to the U.S. government, there are currently two countries on the “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention” list: Iran, which was designated in February this year, and Afghanistan.

The Afghan foreign ministry in a statement said it “regrets” the United States’ decision to designate Afghanistan as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” stressing that “no foreign nationals have been detained for purposes of a deal.”

It added that some individuals were arrested for “violating established laws” and in many cases were released after legal procedures were completed.

The ministry also said that Kabul had taken “positive steps as a goodwill gesture” over the past year regarding several detained U.S. nationals, noting that talks with Washington, facilitated by Qatar, are ongoing and expressing hope the issue will be resolved through “constructive engagement.”.

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