The United States has placed Afghanistan on its list of countries where foreign nationals are kidnapped, unlawfully detained, or improperly imprisoned.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this decision came after the continued uncertainty over the fate of several detained American citizens in Afghanistan. He emphasized that Washington will persist in efforts to secure the release of Americans held abroad, including in Afghanistan, and accused the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan of using the detention of foreign nationals for political leverage.
Rubio stated:
“Our mission, past and future, is to bring all Americans home. Under President Trump’s leadership, we will not stop until unlawfully detained Americans are returned.”
At the same time, Adam Bowler, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, noted that three Americans are currently detained in Afghanistan. He said:
“We have made it clear to the Taliban that hostage-taking policies are unacceptable, and we are serious. Today, we have added Afghanistan to the list of countries supporting wrongful detention. Detention carries serious consequences. We also warn other countries involved in similar actions.”
The U.S. representative to the United Nations also stressed the importance of securing the release of detained Americans. According to Mike Waltz, Washington prioritizes the safety and protection of U.S. citizens abroad.
In response, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that no foreign national has been detained as a bargaining tool. The ministry called Washington’s decision “regrettable” and emphasized that such issues should be resolved through diplomatic channels.
Deputy spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal said:
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers the U.S. decision to list Afghanistan as a supporter of ‘unlawful detention’ unfortunate. The Afghan government clarifies that no foreign nationals have been taken as leverage. Some individuals were detained for violating applicable laws and, in most cases, were released following legal procedures.”
Analysts argue that Washington’s involvement in other countries’ legal systems violates international norms, often to serve U.S. interests.
Political analyst Idris Mohammadi Zazi commented:
“Those who are detained certainly have legal cases or charges. The Islamic Emirate, as a government, should have detained them through proper legal procedures, conducted investigations, and only detained them if guilt was proven.”
According to reports, the U.S. cited three Americans detained in Afghanistan by the Islamic Emirate, including Dennis Kyle and Mahmood Shah Habibi, though the Emirate has not publicly commented on these detentions.
