US Places Afghanistan on List of Countries Supporting Illegal Detentions Due to Taliban Policy
Adam Boler, the US special representative for hostages, wrote on X on Wednesday that the US State Department has added Afghanistan to a list of countries supporting illegal detentions because of the Taliban's hostage-taking policy.
Boler emphasized that the Taliban has unjustly detained US citizens. While the Taliban has released some Americans, three others remain in custody. The Taliban has demanded a prisoner exchange and urged the US to resolve the issue through negotiations.
On Monday, the United States designated Afghanistan as a "country supporting illegal detention" due to the Taliban's actions, making it the second country on the list after Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Taliban is holding the citizens to gain political leverage and that such tactics will not work against the US.
The Taliban Foreign Ministry described the US action as regrettable in a statement, asserting that citizens of no country are detained as bargaining chips and that arrests are only for violations of applicable laws. The statement added that the Taliban government seeks to resolve the issue of detained US citizens through ongoing dialogues and constructive engagement.
Previously, in late 2025, Adam Boler and former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad visited Kabul and discussed the releases with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
The Taliban wants the release of Mohammad Rahim, an alleged Al-Qaeda operative held in Guantanamo since 2008 and accused of cooperating with Osama bin Laden, in exchange for the detained Americans.
Know more about this story?
If you have additional information or believe something is inaccurate, let us know. Your tips help us stay accurate.
More in International
Iranian Foreign Minister Affirms High-Level Diplomatic Engagement With Russia
Nearly 100 UN Member States Condemn Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Attacks as Threat to Global Economy
Iran Condemns US Seizure of Oil Tankers as Piracy
France Delivers 42 Tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan via EU Air Bridge
ReliableIranian Foreign Minister Affirms High-Level Diplomatic Engagement With Russia
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi affirmed that diplomatic engagement with Russia remains at the highest level following recent meetings with senior Russian officials. He stated that recent developments underscore the depth of the strategic partnership between Tehran and Moscow.
ReliableNearly 100 UN Member States Condemn Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Attacks as Threat to Global Economy
Nearly one hundred UN member states have condemned Iran’s recent attacks in the Strait of Hormuz as a threat to the global economy. Meanwhile, the White House confirmed it is reviewing an Iranian peace proposal to halt hostilities and reopen the waterway, though Washington’s core red lines remain in place.
ReliableIran Condemns US Seizure of Oil Tankers as Piracy
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the U.S. seizure of Iranian oil tankers in international waters, labeling the action as piracy and a violation of international law. Spokesperson Ismail Baghai called for accountability, warning that the detentions threaten global maritime security and free trade.
ReliableFrance Delivers 42 Tonnes of Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan via EU Air Bridge
France has delivered 42 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including therapeutic food and medical supplies, to Afghanistan via the EU Humanitarian Air Bridge. The shipment will be managed by the UN to treat severe malnutrition in approximately 3,200 young children amid a broader humanitarian crisis.