Kabul reassures Washington as tensions rise over wrongful detention claims.
The Afghan government has confirmed that two U.S. citizens are currently in custody after allegedly violating local laws, spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told TOLOnews on Friday. Mujahid described the case as “not serious” and said a solution is available to resolve the situation, signaling that the matter could be settled diplomatically.
This confirmation follows a tense week in U.S.–Afghan relations. On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally designated Afghanistan as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention”, citing concerns over arbitrary detentions of Americans. The designation drew immediate pushback from Kabul, with the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issuing a statement on Tuesday expressing regret over the U.S. decision.
The ministry stressed that no foreign nationals are being held for political leverage or exchange purposes, rejecting the premise behind the American designation. Mujahid echoed this, underscoring that the detentions are purely legal matters related to violations of Afghan law.
Analysts say the confirmation aims to ease diplomatic tensions while signalling that Afghanistan is open to resolving the issue without escalating the conflict. Both governments are expected to engage in discussions to clarify the circumstances surrounding the detentions and explore possible resolutions.
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