The spokesperson for the US State Department stated that the detention of American citizens in Afghanistan has hindered positive engagement between Washington and the Taliban.

Matthew Miller emphasized on Wednesday that US officials have underscored the immediate and unconditional release of these citizens in meetings with Taliban representatives.

Regarding the fate of Ryan Corbett, an American citizen held by the Taliban since 2022, Mr. Miller stated, “The US government has consistently and persistently pressed for the immediate and unconditional release of detained Americans in Afghanistan, including in meetings with Taliban representatives.” He added, “The detention of American citizens is a significant barrier to positive interaction between the US and the Taliban.”

Previously, Morgan McGraw, a member of the US House of Representatives, also called for the immediate release of Ryan Corbett from Taliban detention. Ryan Corbett had been residing in Kabul with his wife and three children since 2010 and left Afghanistan in August 2021.

Mr. Corbett’s family stated that the Taliban detained him during a business trip to Kabul with a German colleague and two Afghan colleagues on August 10, 2022.

This comes when on Sunday, February 25^th, an 84-year-old Australian citizen was released from Taliban captivity with the mediation of Qatar. He had travelled to Afghanistan last year and was detained by the Taliban on charges of espionage.

In the past, the Taliban has used detained Americans as leverage for exchanges with their imprisoned members in the United States.

Michael McCaul, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has renewed his threat to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress if the department persists in withholding subpoenaed documents regarding the U.S.’s exit from Afghanistan in 2021.

In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, McCaul stated, “The State Department’s After-Action Review of the Biden administration’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan found significant failures in the department’s response.”

“The law does not afford the State Department blanket authority to hide behind ‘Executive Branch confidentiality interests’ to obstruct Congress’s access to the truth,” McCaul wrote as reported by the media outlets.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee and the State Department have been embroiled in a dispute since January 2023 over crucial documents related to the tumultuous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in August 2021. These documents are central to the House Republicans’ investigation into what has been termed a “chaotic” exit from the country.

McCaul’s recent letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken detailed a series of exchanges spanning several months regarding the committee’s request for interview notes from the After-Action Review (AAR) team. These notes are said to contain invaluable first-hand accounts of the events surrounding the withdrawal.

Despite previous assurances, the committee was informed last month that a State Department official had reviewed the interview notes, which are now being withheld by the White House and the National Security Council, according to McCaul.

Expressing frustration, the Texas Republican warned of potential contempt proceedings against Blinken if the AAR’s interview notes are not surrendered by March 6. He criticized the Department’s reasoning for withholding the documents, accusing them of prioritizing politics over policy.

This latest confrontation follows earlier attempts by the committee to obtain pertinent information. In July, a subpoena was issued demanding the State Department release documents related to the withdrawal. McCaul expressed disappointment at the limited response, which he deemed insufficient.

Additionally, there was contention over a diplomatic cable related to the withdrawal. Despite initial resistance, the State Department eventually relented after threats of contempt proceedings, allowing committee members access to the dissent channel cable in June.