• The U.S. has designated Afghanistan as a "State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention."
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the Taliban of using hostage-taking as leverage.
• The Taliban rejected allegations of engaging in "hostage diplomacy."
• The U.S. warns against travel to Afghanistan due to safety concerns.
• Afghanistan's government calls for constructive dialogue to resolve the matter.

The United States has officially designated Afghanistan as a "State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention," with Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleging that the Taliban utilizes hostage-taking to negotiate with the U.S. Rubio stated, “Today, I am designating Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,” emphasizing the necessity for these "despicable tactics" to cease immediately. Furthermore, he warned Americans against traveling to Afghanistan, citing ongoing unjust detentions of U.S. nationals, including Dennis Coyle and Mahmoud Habibi, according to Dawn, aa, and LA Times.

In a response to the U.S. designation, Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret, indicating that arrests are made based on law violations rather than negotiations. They underscored the point that “no foreign national has been detained for purposes of a deal,” suggesting that many detainees have been released per legal procedures, according to aa and LA Times.

The U.S. further emphasized the issue at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), where Ambassador Mike Waltz called for scrutiny over international funding to Afghanistan, linking it to Taliban’s restrictions on women's rights and the detention of foreign nationals. He noted that the continued exclusion of women from basic rights necessitates a reevaluation of the international commitment to Afghanistan, as reported by Dawn and aa.