The United States has accused the Taliban of continuing what it described as a “hostage-taking” policy, calling for the immediate release of all American citizens it says are being wrongfully detained in Afghanistan.
In an exclusive interview with an Afghan media outlet, US State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Stickney said the detention of American citizens by the Taliban remained unacceptable and urged the group to release all those held without justification.
“Unfortunately, we see that the Taliban continue their policy of hostage-taking, and we want the release of all US citizens who have been unjustly detained,” she said.
Stickney stressed that protecting American citizens and safeguarding US national interests remained among the highest priorities of the US administration’s policy towards Afghanistan.
She also said counterterrorism continued to be one of Washington’s key national security priorities in relation to Afghanistan, underscoring the United States’ continued focus on the threat posed by terrorist groups operating in the country.
Commenting on the human rights situation, the State Department spokesperson described conditions facing Afghan women and girls as “appalling” and urged the Taliban to end what she called ongoing violations of their rights.
Asked whether Washington planned to take additional steps regarding Afghanistan, Stickney said the United States remained actively engaged but declined to provide details about any specific measures.
Relations between Washington and the Taliban have remained strained since the group’s return to power in August 2021. The United States has not recognized the Taliban administration and has repeatedly voiced concerns over human rights, particularly restrictions imposed on women and girls.
The detention of foreign nationals, including several American citizens, has remained a persistent source of tension between the two sides. US officials have repeatedly demanded the release of detained Americans, maintaining that their detention is unlawful.
The exact number of US citizens currently being held by the Taliban has not been publicly confirmed.
While Washington continues to press for the release of its citizens and maintains that counterterrorism remains a central objective of its Afghanistan policy, the Taliban have consistently rejected allegations of arbitrary detentions and human rights violations, insisting that their actions are carried out in accordance with their interpretation of domestic laws and Islamic values.
