Secretary of State Marco Rubio accuses the Taliban of holding Americans hostage and warns it’s unsafe for US citizens to travel to Afghanistan.
The United States has added Afghanistan to its list of countries that wrongfully detain people. The move comes after the Taliban‑led government held Americans in the country, apparently to use them for political advantage.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision on March 9, 2026. He said the Taliban is using “terrorist tactics” like kidnapping and detention to gain concessions. Rubio warned Americans not to travel to Afghanistan because it is unsafe.
Rubio called for the release of two Americans believed to be held there: Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old teacher held since January 2025 without charges, and Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-American businessman missing since August 2022. The US has even offered $5 million for information that could help bring Habibi home.
The wrongful detention list is part of a new US law started in September 2025. It allows the US to impose sanctions or restrictions on countries that hold Americans unfairly. Iran was the first country added to this list in February 2026.
At the United Nations, US officials accused the Taliban of “hostage diplomacy” and questioned whether humanitarian aid should go to a government that violates human rights.
The Taliban denied the US claims, saying that foreigners are held according to Afghan law and that some detainees have already been released. They said they prefer to solve the issue through talks, not sanctions.
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