US Warns Afghanistan Over Detained Americans, Threatens Travel Restrictions

The United States has officially designated Afghanistan as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” accusing the Taliban-led government of detaining American citizens to gain political concessions.

The announcement was made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said the Taliban has used tactics such as kidnapping and detention of foreigners to extract ransom or policy benefits. He demanded the immediate release of detained Americans, including Mahmood Habibi and Dennis Coyle.

Rubio warned that the designation could lead to additional measures against Afghanistan, including possible restrictions on US passport holders travelling to the country due to the risk of unjust detention.

The move follows a US executive order introduced in 2025 that allows Washington to classify countries as sponsors of wrongful detention and impose penalties such as sanctions, export controls and travel restrictions.

The US also urged the Taliban government to cooperate in resolving cases involving detained Americans and to return the remains of author Paul Overby, who disappeared near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in 2014.

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have previously denied holding some of the individuals mentioned by the US, but tensions between Washington and Kabul remain high over the issue.

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