The United States has designated Afghanistan as a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” accusing the ruling Taliban of using hostage-taking as leverage against Washington.
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The announcement was made on Monday by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who warned that Afghanistan was unsafe for American travellers due to the risk of arbitrary detention.
“Today, I am designating Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” Rubio said in an official statement, urging Americans to avoid travel to the country.
He alleged that the Taliban continues to detain American citizens and other foreign nationals without justification. According to Rubio, such actions amount to “terrorist tactics” used to demand ransom payments or political concessions.
Rubio also called for the immediate release of US nationals currently held in Afghanistan, including Dennis Coyle and Mahmoud Habibi. “The Taliban must release all Americans unjustly detained in Afghanistan and commit to ending hostage diplomacy,” he said.
The designation follows a similar move earlier this year when the US labelled Iran as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention.
Meanwhile, Washington also intensified criticism of Taliban policies during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. US Ambassador Mike Waltz questioned whether continued international engagement and financial support for Afghanistan remained justified under current conditions.
Waltz said the international community must carefully review the value of assistance programmes given the Taliban’s policies, particularly restrictions on women.
He noted that the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) remains the largest UN special political mission worldwide, even after its 2026 budget was reduced by 15 per cent.
The US ambassador also highlighted a reported $1 billion humanitarian funding shortfall and suggested that greater international support might be possible if the Taliban allowed women to participate fully in public life and employment.
“The people of Afghanistan deserve responsible governance and basic rights,” Waltz said, adding that the international community must continue to hold the Taliban accountable.
