Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The Taliban’s ambassador to Qatar, Suhail Shaheen, has issued a stern warning to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after Rubio suggested imposing bounties on Afghanistan’s leadership over the detention of American citizens.
Shaheen, speaking Monday, emphasized that Afghanistan’s government seeks to address disputes through dialogue and urged Rubio to reconsider his aggressive stance. “In the face of pressure and aggression, the jihad (struggle) of the Afghan nation in recent decades is a lesson that everyone should learn from,” he said.
Rubio sparked controversy over the weekend with a post on X, where he hinted at placing “a VERY BIG bounty” on Taliban leaders if reports of additional U.S. hostages in Afghanistan prove accurate. “Maybe even bigger than the one we had on [Osama] bin Laden,” Rubio added, escalating tensions.
The remarks follow a prisoner swap last week negotiated during the final days of Joe Biden’s presidency. The deal secured the release of two Americans, Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, in exchange for Taliban official Khan Muhammad. However, two other Americans, George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi, remain in Taliban custody. The Taliban have not disclosed the number of foreigners currently detained.
Shaheen highlighted recent positive outcomes through negotiation, citing the release of Canadian national David Lavery. Lavery was freed through mediation by Qatar, with Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly confirming his safe arrival in Doha on Monday. “He is in good spirits,” Joly said, thanking Qatar for its role in facilitating his release.
The Taliban, who regained power in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces, have reiterated their preference for diplomacy in resolving such cases. Shaheen, a key figure in the Taliban’s Doha negotiations, called for calm amidst rising tensions with the United States.
This latest standoff underscores the delicate relationship between Washington and Kabul as the Biden-era agreements face new scrutiny under Rubio’s leadership.
