Washington(The COW News Digital) The United States has taken a tougher stance against the Afghan Taliban administration, warning of serious consequences over the detention of American citizens in Afghanistan.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States has officially designated Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” accusing the authorities of holding individuals unlawfully.
In a statement, Rubio said the designation reflects growing concerns in Washington over what the US describes as the Taliban’s continued use of detention as leverage in political negotiations.
According to Rubio, the Taliban leadership is allegedly attempting to secure policy concessions by detaining foreign nationals. He claimed that such actions amount to coercive tactics and warned that these strategies would not succeed.
“The United States will not tolerate the wrongful detention of its citizens,” Rubio said, adding that Washington considers the issue a serious violation of international norms and human rights.
The US Secretary of State specifically called for the immediate release of American citizens Dennis Coile and Mahmood Habibi, who are reportedly being held in Afghanistan. He urged the Taliban authorities to free all detained US nationals without delay.
Rubio emphasized that the US government is actively working through diplomatic and international channels to secure the release of the detained individuals. He also warned that continued detentions could further isolate the Taliban administration from the international community.
Relations between Washington and the Taliban government have remained tense since the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021. Issues including human rights concerns, women’s rights, and the detention of foreign nationals have continued to complicate diplomatic engagement.
Analysts say the latest designation by the United States signals an escalation in pressure on the Taliban leadership and could lead to additional diplomatic or economic measures if the detainees are not released.
The Taliban authorities have not yet issued an official response to the latest statement from Washington.
