At Least Three US Citizens Remain Detained by Taliban Despite Recent Releases

KABUL (Afghan Verified) -- At least three American citizens, including Mahmoud Habibi and Paul Orby, remain in Taliban detention or their fates are unknown, according to reports on ongoing US-Taliban prisoner exchanges.

The Taliban have denied detaining Mahmoud Habibi. In a recent swap, Mark Frickx was released in exchange for Bashir Nozari. Discussions have also involved Muhammad Rahim, a key al-Qaeda member and associate of Osama bin Laden who has been held at Guantanamo Bay since 2008.

US officials in the Trump administration warned the Taliban to cease hostage-taking or face consequences. Annie Forsaymer, former deputy head of the US Embassy in Kabul, stated that US pressures have removed incentives for the Taliban to take new hostages, though they may continue to hold those currently detained.

The US has increased diplomatic pressure, including blocking a one-year extension of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and approving only a three-month renewal while demanding a review of aid delivery under Taliban rule.

These developments highlight the use of detentions as a bargaining tool in US-Taliban relations since 2021, with the US employing isolation, sanctions and warnings to raise costs for the Taliban.