US Senate Foreign Relations Chair: Time for Taliban to Pay for 'Crimes'; Afghanistan Designated 'Country Supporting Unfair Detentions'

Jim Risch, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that it is time for the Taliban to pay the price for their "crimes."

Risch welcomed the US State Department's designation of Afghanistan as a "country supporting unfair detentions." He accused the Taliban of using money received from the United States -- taxpayer funds -- to finance "terrorist" campaigns and to implement what he called "savage Sharia law." Risch said the Taliban have detained US citizens, including Dennis Keill and Mahmud Shah Habibi.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that the Taliban continue to use "terrorist tactics" to seek political concessions, but such methods will not succeed with the current US administration. Rubio announced the designation of Afghanistan as a "country supporting unfair detentions" and demanded the immediate release of Dennis Keill, Mahmud Shah Habibi, and all US citizens "unfairly" detained in Afghanistan.

Adam Boehler, the US special envoy for hostages, warned on X that the United States will no longer tolerate any country holding American citizens. He noted that three "innocent" US citizens are currently detained in Afghanistan and urged their release. Boehler cautioned that failure to free them could lead to serious consequences for Afghanistan, potentially similar to those faced by Venezuela or Iran.

The Taliban have not responded to the statements from the US officials.