A US envoy has warned the Taliban to release detained American citizens, saying the Taliban-led authorities in Afghanistan should not test Washington’s resolve or risk consequences similar to those faced by Iran and Venezuela.
Adam Boehler, the US president’s special envoy for hostage affairs, made the remarks Monday after the US State Department placed Afghanistan on a list of countries accused of wrongfully detaining American citizens.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that Afghanistan had been added to the list of countries that unlawfully detain US nationals. He accused the Taliban of using what he described as terrorist tactics to gain political concessions and said such an approach would not succeed with the current US administration.
Boehler, who has visited Afghanistan at least twice and previously helped secure the release of several detained Americans, wrote on X that the United States would no longer tolerate any country holding its citizens hostage. He said three American citizens were currently being held in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to release them.
He warned that testing the US president and senior officials, including Rubio, could lead to consequences for the Taliban authorities similar to those faced by Iran and Venezuela.
The warning reflects Washington’s strategy of applying pressure to secure the release of detained US citizens.
The Taliban have demanded the release of an Afghan prisoner in exchange for the Americans. The group has also called on the United States to reopen its embassy in Kabul and improve relations with the Taliban authorities.
