Trump administration fights to release American in Taliban detention

On Aug. 10, 2022, American citizen Mahmood Habibi was arrested by the Taliban with 30 of his fellow Asia Consultancy Group employees. Despite both the Biden and Trump administrations obtaining the release of numerous Americans held by the Taliban over the past year, Habibi remains in Taliban custody, as do additional U.S. citizens, according to the State Department.

Obtaining Habibi’s release has been difficult because the Taliban have steadfastly claimed that they do not hold him in custody. Nearing the third anniversary of his capture, his brother, Ahmad Shah Habibi, has come forward to share details that confirm the Taliban have held him.