In a stark confirmation that underscores the Taliban’s disregard for international norms, the Taliban have officially admitted to detaining two American citizens in Afghanistan, including Afghan-American businessman Mahmood Shah Habibi. This admission highlights the ongoing lawlessness and lack of transparency under Taliban rule, raising serious concerns about the safety of foreign nationals and Afghan citizens alike.
Speaking to TOLOnews, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said:
“Two Americans are still in detention in Afghanistan. They were arrested for violating Afghan law. There are ways to resolve such issues, and in my view, the matter is not very serious. Their detention is legal, and their cases are in the courts. They had legal files, and we hope the issue will be resolved.”
The statement reflects a troubling pattern of arbitrary detentions, opaque judicial processes, and selective enforcement of the law under the Taliban. International observers have repeatedly criticized the regime for ignoring legal safeguards, manipulating the courts, and using imprisonment as a tool of political intimidation.
According to U.S. officials:
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Dennis Coyle, an American academic and researcher who traveled to Afghanistan in 2025, is reportedly held in Afghan custody. Details of his detention remain unclear.
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Mahmood Shah Habibi, an Afghan-American businessman and former head of Afghanistan’s civil aviation authority, disappeared in Kabul in 2022. Despite repeated denials, the Taliban now confirm he is in detention, raising serious questions about the regime’s treatment of dissidents and former officials.
Human rights experts warn that the Taliban’s unchecked control over detention facilities and the judicial system makes Afghanistan one of the most dangerous countries for foreigners and its own citizens. Arbitrary imprisonment, lack of transparency, and systemic repression have created an environment of fear and uncertainty.
The Taliban’s admission comes after the U.S. Department of State designated Afghanistan as a country supporting illegal detentions, highlighting the regime’s persistent violations of basic human rights and international norms. U.S. officials have emphasized the urgent need for unrestricted access to the detainees and transparent legal proceedings.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State said:
“The arbitrary detention of U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is deeply alarming. The Taliban’s actions violate fundamental human rights and demonstrate their ongoing disregard for the rule of law. We call for immediate access to the detainees and transparency in their cases.”
This latest development further exposes Afghanistan as a country where the Taliban exercise absolute power without accountability, jeopardizing regional security and international engagement. Foreign nationals, former government officials, journalists, and activists remain at risk of extrajudicial detention, intimidation, and abuse. The situation underscores the persistent dangers of Taliban rule, the erosion of judicial independence, and the collapse of legal protections for ordinary Afghans.
The international community continues to urge the Taliban to honor human rights, adhere to international law, and allow access to detainees, but evidence suggests the regime remains unwilling or incapable of operating within accepted global standards, leaving Afghanistan increasingly isolated and unstable.
