Trump Administration Designates Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Unjust Detentions

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday formally designated Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Unjust Detention, paving the way for the Trump administration to impose restrictions such as sanctions and export controls as punishment for the Taliban’s arbitrary imprisonment of Americans.

The designation allows powers created by an executive order in September to be used by the Trump administration. In addition to the sanctions, travel restrictions could be implemented for US passport holders who otherwise want to travel to the country.

“The Taliban continue to use terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or seeking political concessions. These despicable tactics must end,” Rubio said in a statement announcing the decision.

“It is not safe for Americans to travel to Afghanistan because the Taliban continues to unjustly detain our fellow Americans and other foreign citizens,” the statement continued. “The Taliban need to now release Dennis Coyle, Mahmoud Habibi and all Americans unjustly detained in Afghanistan and commit to forever ceasing the practice of hostage diplomacy.”

Afghanistan is the second country to receive the designation after Iran was tagged on February 27, the day before the United States and Israel launched joint attacks against the Islamic Republic.

“They see Americans as a commodity that they can appropriate and then trade in the future,” Rubio said at a ceremony Monday at the State Department. “That cycle has to stop and that’s why this designation now exists.”

U.S. government officials, former U.S. detainees and their families were hosted by the State Department on Monday to commemorate National Hostage and Unjustly Detained Day, celebrated annually on March 9. The national flag of unjustly detained Americans and hostages was raised outside the State Department on Monday with families of those detained watching from the top floor of the building.

At the event, Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler said the administration has helped bring home 175 people, including 100 Americans, wrongfully detained abroad since the start of President Trump’s second term.

Among the Americans currently detained in Afghanistan is Dennis Coyle, 64, an academic from Colorado who was kidnapped just six days after Ryan Corbett, another American, was freed at the start of President Trump’s second term. Coyle is being held by the Taliban’s General Intelligence Directorate in near-isolation and, according to his family, no charges have been brought against him.

Coyle’s sisters, Molly Long and Amy Sessions, met with Rubio on Monday in Washington, a family advocate told News themezone.

“We deeply appreciate [Secretary Rubio’s] leadership to hold the Taliban accountable for wrongfully detaining my brother, Dennis Coyle,” Long said in a statement shared with News themezone. “We have great confidence in this administration, particularly Secretary Rubio, Dr. Sebastian Gorka and Adam Boehler, for prioritizing Dennis’ freedom and working tirelessly to bring him home safely. “We remain hopeful and grateful.”