The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has denied involvement in the disappearance of Afghan-American citizen Mahmood Shah Habibi.
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.
