Washington Warns Kabul: Detaining US Citizens Follows Heavy Price

DID Press: Publishing a new executive order, U.S. diplomatic mission for Afghanistan in Qatar, warned against detention of American citizens abroad, stressing that using U.S. nationals as tools of political pressure will carry a heavy price for the governments and groups involved. This warning may also be directed at the Taliban’s caretaker government.

The U.S. diplomatic mission in Qatar described this executive order as an “extraordinary and unprecedented step,” saying its purpose is to protect American citizens against unjust arrests and detentions outside the United States.

According to the order, countries engaged in political or unlawful detentions of American citizens will be placed on a special list. U.S. officials emphasized in this message that the new policy sends a “clear message” to governments and groups attempting to use the detention of Americans as political leverage.

“If you try to use an American citizen as a bargaining chip, you will face severe consequences,” reads the statement.

This measure could be interpreted as a direct warning to the Taliban’s caretaker government, as reports indicate that several Americans remain detained in Afghanistan.

Washington has repeatedly called on Taliban authorities to release these individuals immediately.

US claims that three American citizens—George Glezman, Ryan Corbett, and Mahmood Shah Habibi—are currently being held in Afghanistan.

The caretaker government expressed no knowledge regarding the whereabouts of Mahmood Shah Habibi, an Afghanistani-American citizen.

FBI announced a $5 million reward for information about Habibi.