Afghanistan's Taliban regime rejects its involvement in disappearance of Afghan-American citizen

Habibi went missing in 2022.

Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, said on X: "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan categorically rejects the allegations made by the United States of America, which accuse the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) of Afghanistan of involvement in the disappearance of an Afghan citizen named Mahmood Shah Habibi."

He said: "Relevant institutions of the Islamic Emirate have undertaken investigations across all concerned departments in response to a petition submitted by Mr. Habibi’s family. No evidence has been uncovered indicating that he has been detained by any entity affiliated with the Islamic Emirate."

He said as a legitimate governing authority, the Islamic Emirate has no reason to detain or conceal any individual merely suspected of criminal activity.

"Historically as well, citizens of several countries, including the United States, who were apprehended for violations of Afghanistan’s enforced laws, maintained regular contact with their families, and judicial and legal proceedings related to their cases were conducted with transparency," he said.

US Previously Offered Rewards For  Mahmood Shah Habibi's Recovery

The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for certain information leading to the location, recovery, and safe return of Mahmood Shah Habibi, an American businessman abducted in Afghanistan on August 10, 2022. 

"Habibi was abducted, along with his driver, from his vehicle in Kabul, Afghanistan and detained by the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence," the US Department of State said in a statement.

At the time of his disappearance, he was working as a consultant for a Kabul-based telecommunications firm. 

He has not been heard from since his initial arrest, and the Taliban has yet to provide any information regarding his whereabouts or condition.