Afghanistan's Taliban Government Rejects U.s. Allegation That It Engages In 'hostage Diplomacy'

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities connected Tuesday rejected U.S. allegations that it detains foreigners to get leverage complete different countries, saying Afghan authorities apprehension group for violating laws not to make a deal.

The U.S. State Department connected Monday announced nan nickname of Afghanistan arsenic a sponsor of wrongful detention, accusing it of engaging successful “hostage diplomacy.” Afghanistan joined Iran arsenic countries singled retired by nan U.S. successful nan past 2 weeks for detaining Americans successful hopes of extracting argumentation concessions.

On Tuesday, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs successful Kabul called that nickname “regrettable.”

In July, nan Taliban delegation to a U.N.-led gathering successful Doha said that Afghans detained astatine nan U.S. subject guidelines successful Guantanamo Bay should beryllium exchanged for Americans detained successful Afghanistan. The ministry connected Tuesday described ongoing negotiated discussions pinch nan U.S. connected nan matter arsenic constructive. But it underlined that immoderate foreigners detained successful Afghanistan had violated Afghan law.

“The authorities of Afghanistan underscores that nary overseas nationals person been detained for purposes of a deal,” nan ministry said. “Certain individuals person been detained connected charges of violating established laws, and successful galore instances, they person been released successful nan normal people pursuing nan completion of ineligible procedures.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio connected Monday warned Americans not to recreation to Afghanistan, saying that nan Taliban “continues to unjustly detain our chap Americans and different overseas nationals.”

“The Taliban continues to usage violent tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom aliases to activity argumentation concessions. These bad strategies request to end,” Rubio said.

Rubio called for nan merchandise of 2 Americans believed to beryllium successful Taliban custody: Dennis Coyle, an world interrogator detained successful nan state since January 2025, and Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan American businessman who worked arsenic a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications institution and vanished successful 2022.

The FBI and Habibi’s family person said they judge Habibi was taken by Taliban forces, but nan Taliban has denied holding him.

In September, 2025, nan Afghan T aliban authorities freed U.S. national Amir Amiri from Afghan situation successful a bid to normalize relations pinch nan United States.