"The 'State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention' designation places Afghanistan on a blacklist created under an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump in September targeting governments accused of 'hostage diplomacy.' Iran received the same designation on February 27, a day before the US and Israel attacked the Islamic Republic."
"US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Taliban uses 'terrorist tactics,' including kidnapping individuals for ransom or policy concessions, and warned that Afghanistan was unsafe for American travelers. Rubio urged the Taliban to 'cease the practice of hostage diplomacy forever' and release Mahmood Habibi and Dennis Coyle, believed to be in Taliban custody."
"According to Habibi's family, the Afghan-American businessman and former head of Afghanistan's civil aviation authority disappeared in Kabul in August 2022. The US State Department has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his return. Coyle, an academic, was detained in January 2025."
The United States designated Afghanistan as a 'State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention' under an executive order targeting governments practicing hostage diplomacy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the Taliban of using terrorist tactics including kidnapping individuals for ransom or policy concessions, declaring Afghanistan unsafe for American travelers. The designation places Afghanistan on a blacklist alongside Iran. The US is seeking the release of detained Americans including businessman Mahmood Habibi and academic Dennis Coyle, offering a $5 million reward for Habibi's return. The US is also demanding the remains of author Paul Overby, missing since 2014. Additionally, the US is considering restrictions on American passport use for Afghanistan travel and calling for reassessment of UN aid to Kabul.
Read at www.dw.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]