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The United States has issued a stern warning to Afghanistan, demanding the immediate release of three American citizens currently believed to be detained in the country. Adam Boehler, the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, stated that Washington will no longer tolerate any country holding American citizens as leverage in political negotiations.
Boehler warned that if the detainees are not released, Afghanistan could face consequences similar to those imposed on countries such as Iran and Venezuela, both of which have faced sanctions and diplomatic pressure over similar allegations. United States officials argue that detaining foreign nationals to gain political concessions amounts to “hostage diplomacy,” a practice Washington strongly condemns.
Call for Immediate Release of American Citizens
The U.S. government specifically called for the release of Dennis Coyle, Mahmood Habibi, and another unnamed American citizen reportedly being held by the Taliban authorities. Coyle, an academic researcher who worked in Afghanistan for years, was detained in 2025, while Habibi, a former Afghan civil aviation official and U.S. citizen, was reportedly taken into custody in Kabul in 2022.
U.S. officials maintain that these individuals are being held unjustly and have urged the Taliban to release them without conditions.
Rising Diplomatic Pressure on the Taliban
The warning comes amid growing tensions between Washington and the ruling Taliban government. Recently, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Afghanistan as a “State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” accusing the Taliban of using detainees as bargaining tools in international relations.
Analysts believe the latest warning signals a tougher U.S. stance toward Kabul and could lead to further diplomatic or economic measures if the detained Americans are not released soon.
