Trump’s Special Envoy Warns Taliban of Serious Consequences Over Detained American Citizens
Adam Boulter, Donald Trump’s special envoy for detainee affairs, has warned that if the American citizens detained in Afghanistan are not released, the country could face a fate similar to Venezuela or Iran. He emphasized that currently three “innocent” Americans remain in custody in Afghanistan.
Boulter, who has previously traveled to Afghanistan twice and played a role in securing the release of several American detainees, wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) page that the United States will no longer tolerate its citizens being held hostage. Addressing the Taliban administration, he stated that the time for freeing these individuals has come and that serious consequences will follow otherwise.
According to U.S. officials, names such as Dennis Kyle and Mahmoud Habibi are among those detained, and Washington has demanded their immediate release. Reuters, citing two knowledgeable sources, also reported that the U.S. is working to repatriate the remains of Paul Overby, a writer last seen near the Durand Line in 2014.
The Taliban administration has previously released some American detainees following negotiations; however, it denies holding Mahmoud Habibi, the former head of Afghanistan’s Civil Aviation Authority, and has consistently emphasized resolving matters through dialogue and diplomacy. Nevertheless, the continued detention of foreign citizens and the possible use of them as political leverage has once again raised concerns about the Taliban’s approach to individual rights and its international commitments.
