ISLAMABAD: The Taliban has continued their “hostage-taking policy,” a US State Department spokesperson told Afghanistan International, calling for release of all Americans wrongfully detained in Afghanistan.
Spokesperson Elizabeth Stickney stressed that key priorities for Washington’s policy towards Afghanistan was protecting US national interests and supporting US citizens.
She accused Taliban government of continuing “hostage-taking policy,” calling for the release of all “wrongfully detained” Americans.
While speaking to exclusively to Afghanistan Interanational on Thursday, Stickney said the Taliban continued to pursue a policy of hostage-taking and called for the release of all wrongfully detained American citizens.
She added that protecting citizens and safeguarding US national interests were priorities for US President Donald Trump’s administration, adding that counterterrorism remained one of Washington’s most important national interests in Afghanistan.
Stickney also described the rights of Afghan women and girls as horrific, calling on Taliban to end violations of their rights.
In response to whether the US had a plan to change the Afghanistan situation, she said Washington was actively engaged but declined to provide further details.
.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
