The United States has strongly criticized the Afghan Taliban regime for using foreign nationals as leverage and demanded immediate release of detained US nationals.                   

In an interview, US State Department's Arabic-language spokesperson Elizabeth Stickney said the Taliban regime continues to pursue a "hostage-taking policy" by holding foreign nationals.      

She said countering terrorism in Afghanistan remains one of the top national security priorities for the United States.

Elizabeth Stickney also denounced the Taliban's treatment of women and girls, describing the women’s rights situation in Afghanistan as deeply alarming.