US Calls Taliban a 'Sponsor of Wrongful Detention'

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Rubio calls for the release of Americans detained in Afghanistan, including Habibi and Coyle.
The Taliban faces accusations of kidnappings for ransom or policy leverage.
The U.S. threatens to restrict passports for travel to Afghanistan.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Afghanistan on Monday over its treatment of American citizens, hinting at potential restrictions on travel for U.S. passport holders to the country. Rubio announced that he was designating Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” demanding the immediate release of all detained Americans, such as Mahmood Habibi and Dennis Coyle.

“The Taliban continues to adopt terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or policy demands. These heinous practices must cease,” Rubio stated, warning that traveling to Afghanistan may no longer be safe for Americans due to the risk of wrongful detention.

The U.S. is also pursuing the return of the remains of author Paul Overby, last seen near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan in 2014, according to two informed sources. The threat to restrict U.S. passports for travel to Afghanistan could materialize if Taliban authorities do not meet U.S. demands; currently, such restrictions are only in place for North Korea.

Earlier, Rubio made a similar designation against Iran on February 27, marking the first country listed under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in September. While he warned of potential travel restrictions over Iran’s detention of U.S. citizens, no such restrictions have been enforced. Notably, the U.S. and Israel launched military actions against Iran the day after the designation.

Attempts to reach Afghanistan’s government for comment were unsuccessful. The Taliban has previously denied holding Habibi, who was once Afghanistan’s civil aviation chief. CBS News first reported on Monday that the U.S. was considering designating Afghanistan as a state sponsor of wrongful detention.