Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry has expressed regret over the United States’ decision to designate the country as a “sponsor of wrongful detention.”
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said in a statement that Afghanistan has not detained any foreign nationals as a bargaining tool, adding that some individuals had been arrested only for violating the country’s laws. In many cases, he said, those individuals were released after completing legal procedures.
Mr. Balkhi also noted that over the past year the Afghan government has taken positive steps, in good faith and with the mediation of Qatar, regarding the cases of several American citizens.
He stressed that the Afghan government seeks to resolve the issue through dialogue and constructive engagement between the two sides.