U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has designated Afghanistan as a state sponsor of wrongful detention, condemning the Taliban for its unjust treatment of Americans and foreign nationals.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially designated Afghanistan as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” accusing the Taliban of employing terrorist tactics against Americans and other foreign nationals. This announcement was made on Monday, highlighting the ongoing issue of unjust detentions under Taliban rule.
In his statement, Rubio emphasized the need for an end to the Taliban’s “despicable tactics,” which include kidnapping individuals for ransom or to extract political concessions. “I am designating Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” he stated. “The Taliban continues to use terrorist tactics, and these actions need to stop.”
Rubio specifically called for the release of two Americans, Dennis Coyle and Mahmoud Habibi, who he described as “unjustly detained” in Afghanistan. He expressed concern for the safety of Americans traveling to the country, stating, “It is not safe for Americans to travel to Afghanistan because the Taliban continues to unjustly detain our fellow Americans and other foreign nationals.”
Coyle, 64, has been detained for over a year without charges by the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence. His family reports that he was legally working as an academic researcher to support Afghan language communities at the time of his detention.
Habibi, a 38-year-old American citizen born in Afghanistan, was taken from his vehicle in Kabul in August 2022 along with his driver. According to the State Department, Habibi previously served as Afghanistan’s director of civil aviation and worked for the Kabul-based telecommunications company Asia Consultancy Group. While the Taliban has detained 29 other employees from the company, most have since been released. However, Habibi’s whereabouts remain unknown, and the Taliban has not provided any information regarding his condition.
In addition to calling for the release of Coyle and Habibi, the U.S. is also seeking the return of the remains of Paul Overby, an author last seen near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan in 2014, as reported by Reuters. Sources indicate that the State Department may impose restrictions on U.S. passport use for travel to Afghanistan if the Taliban fails to comply with U.S. demands. Currently, such restrictions are only in effect for North Korea.
The Taliban responded to Rubio’s designation by expressing regret over the decision, stating that it prefers to resolve issues through dialogue.
The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021 amid the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. military forces, which marked the end of a 20-year conflict in the region. Rubio had previously designated Iran as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention” just weeks prior to this announcement, warning that travel restrictions could be imposed on Iran due to its treatment of U.S. citizens. However, no such restrictions have been enacted as of yet.
Rubio’s statements underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Americans in Afghanistan and the U.S. government’s commitment to addressing wrongful detentions abroad. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are anticipated as the U.S. continues to advocate for the rights and safety of its citizens.
According to Reuters, the U.S. government is closely monitoring the situation and may take additional actions if necessary.