US Edition
Rubio designates Afghanistan as ‘state sponsor of wrongful detention’
The designation enables sanctions and travel restrictions to pressure the Taliban to release detained Americans, including Dennis Coyle and Mahmood Habibi, officials said.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Afghanistan as a state sponsor of wrongful detention on Monday, demanding Taliban authorities free two Americans and end hostage diplomacy.
- The move responds to reports that the Taliban detained U.S. citizens to extract concessions, with the U.S. saying Mahmood Habibi vanished and Dennis Coyle is held without charges in near-solitary confinement.
- The designation allows the Trump-era September executive order to be used, including sanctions, export controls, and a US$1 billion reward for information on Habibi, Rubio said.
- Families of wrongfully detained Americans met with Rubio and praised his leadership, while U.S. diplomats accused the Taliban of 'hostage diplomacy,' pressuring for detainee releases.
- The step follows a Feb. 27 designation of Iran and expands a new U.S. blacklist as Rubio questions the $1 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, the second country added to the list.
20 Articles
20 Articles
By Jennifer Hansler. The Trump administration on Monday designated Afghanistan as a State Promoter of Wrongful Detention, a move intended to deter the Taliban from kidnapping Americans. It is the second country to be designated as such, and the announcement comes on World Hostage and Wrongful Detention Day. The U.S. government designated Iran as a State Promoter of Wrongful Detention just before launching military operations against the country.…
After Iran, Afghanistan now designated ‘State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention’ by US; Rubio calls for release of Americans
Rubio in particular called for the release of Dennis Coyle, an academic researcher detained in Afghanistan since January 2025, and Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-American businessman who worked as a contractor in Kabul and vanished in 2022.
US designates Afghanistan as 'state sponsor of wrongful detention'
WASHINGTON: United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday (Mar 10) he has designated Afghanistan as a "state sponsor of wrongful detention", demanding Taliban authorities release two Americans and commit to ending its "hostage diplomacy".The move comes just over a week after Iran became the
Trump administration designates Afghanistan as state sponsor of wrongful detention
By Jennifer Hansler, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration on Monday designated Afghanistan as a state sponsor of wrongful detention – a move meant to deter the Taliban from abducting Americans. It is the second country to be designated as such, and the announcement comes on Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day. The administration designated Iran
Associated Press News
US designates Afghanistan as a sponsor of wrongful detention, accuses it of 'hostage diplomacy'
The State Department has designated Afghanistan as a sponsor of wrongful detention as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations separately called out the country for engaging in what he said was “hostage diplomacy.”
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