WASHINGTON: The United States has designated Afghanistan as a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” accusing the Taliban of using foreign detainees as leverage against Washington.
Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, announced the decision on Monday and warned Americans against travelling to Afghanistan, saying the Taliban continue to unjustly detain US nationals and other foreign citizens. Rubio accused the group of using tactics such as kidnapping individuals for ransom or political concessions and called for the immediate release of detained Americans, including Dennis Coyle and Mahmoud Habibi.
At the United Nations Security Council, US Ambassador Mike Waltz urged the international community to reassess engagement and funding for Afghanistan due to Taliban policies. He also criticised restrictions on women, noting that female staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan are unable to work in offices under Taliban rules. There was no immediate response from Taliban authorities to the US designation.
