Taliban Must End Hostage Diplomacy, Says US State Department
The US State Department, referring to the release of American hostage Dennis Coyle from Taliban custody, said President Donald Trump is committed to ending wrongful detentions abroad.
It called on the Taliban to immediately free Mahmood Habibi, and other Americans.
In a statement, the State Department said that the Taliban must end its practice of hostage diplomacy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also welcomed the release of the American hostage. He said it was a positive step towards ending what he described as “hostage diplomacy”.
He said Dennis Coyle was on his way home.
Rubio wrote on X on Tuesday that he had met members of Coyle’s family earlier this month. He said they had asked for help in securing Coyle’s release.
The US secretary of state also thanked the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for their co-operation in helping secure the American hostage’s release.
The State Department said Coyle joins more than 100 Americans who have been freed over the past 15 months during Trump’s second term.
