Brother of Afghan-American Detainee Says Trump Committed to Securing His Release from Taliban

Ahmad Shah Habibi, brother of Mahmoud Shah Habibi, an Afghan-American citizen believed to be detained by the Taliban, said he met in Washington with Sebastian Gorka, U.S. assistant deputy president, and Adam Boehler, Trump's special representative for hostages.

Habibi wrote on X that the two U.S. officials assured him Donald Trump is aware of his brother's situation and will not rest until he returns home.

The Taliban arrested Mahmoud Shah Habibi, former head of Afghanistan's Civil Aviation Authority, in connection with the 2022 killing of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul. The Taliban has denied involvement in his detention, but U.S. officials believe he is held in a Taliban prison.

The United States has offered a $5 million reward for information on Mahmoud Shah Habibi. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Monday that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan has been added to the list of "governments supporting illegal detentions." Sen. Marco Rubio said the Taliban uses terrorist tactics for political leverage, which will not succeed against the current U.S. administration.

Washington states at least three U.S. citizens are currently detained in Taliban prisons.

In recent months, detained U.S. citizens have been a focus of U.S.-Taliban discussions. Adam Boehler, the U.S. special envoy for hostages, and Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. envoy for Afghanistan, visited Kabul in late 2025 to discuss their release with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.