U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Afghanistan and its Taliban government a "state sponsor of wrongful detention," demanding the group end its continuing use of "terrorist tactics" and kidnappings "for ransom or to seek policy concessions," Reuters reported on March 9. The Afghan Taliban responded on March 10 by characterizing the U.S. censure as "regrettable" and adding that it remained open to negotiating for U.S. nationals' release.

The United States imposed the designation amid years of periodic talks with the Afghan Taliban to facilitate the return of U.S. nationals being held by the country. Such talks have often involved the United States granting concessions or engaging in prisoner swaps to secure U.S. nationals' release.