Three years after he disappeared in Afghanistan, there is a new effort to bring attention to the case of Afghan-American Mahmood Habibi. The Taliban denies they are holding him in custody.

Washington

Renewed attention is being brought to the case of Mahmoud Habibi, a U.S. citizen who disappeared in Kabul, Afghanistan, three years ago. The FBI reports that Habibi, who worked for a telecommunications company involved in airport infrastructure, was taken into custody by the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence along with other colleagues, most of whom have since been released. The Taliban denies holding Habibi, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Supporters and lawmakers in the United States, including Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Senator Cory Booker, are calling for increased efforts to secure Habibi's release. The U.S. State Department has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his safe return, and advocates are urging the government to prioritize his case. Habibi's family continues to await news of his fate.

Supporters, lawmakers draw attention to captured Afghan-American

There is renewed attention on the case of an American held by the Taliban. This week marks three years since Mahmoud Habibi, a U.S. citizen, disappeared in Kabul, Afghanistan. The FBI says either the Taliban or security forces there took Habibi from his vehicle. His supporters held a press conference earlier today to bring light to his case. Scripps News Global Affairs correspondent Maya Rodriguez was listening in on that news conference. And so Maya, what did they have to say about Habibi's case and where he is now? Stephanie, Mahmoud Habibi has not been seen nor heard from since he was taken into custody by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Taliban, though, denies they are holding him. So here's some of the back story on this. Habibi works in civil aviation and he was employed by a company called the Asia Consultancy Group. That is a telecommunications company in Kabul that worked on Afghanistan's airport infrastructure, things like radar and air traffic control. The State Department says on August 10th, 2022, Habibi was in a vehicle with his driver. That's when they were stopped and taken into custody by the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence, allegedly because they believed he was involved in the U.S. drone strike that killed an al Qaeda leader several weeks before. The FBI says 29 other employees of the Asia Consultancy Group were also taken into custody. All but two of those employees were released. One of the two is Habibi, who no one has seen or heard from in three years. Today, supporters of Habibi here in the United States held a news conference about his case that was led by Sean Van Diver of Afghan evac, an organization that advocates on behalf of Afghans who helped the American military during their 20 year war in Afghanistan. Mahmoud Habibi is an SIV, a Special Merit Visa turned American citizen, who stood with us and helped keep Afghanistan's skies safe. And for three long years, the Taliban have disappeared him. His wife and young daughter deserve more than silence. They deserve their husband and father back. I'm calling on the U.S. government to make Mahmoud's return an unambiguous priority and to use every diplomatic and economic tool at our disposal to end this hostage diplomacy. Also today, Democratic California Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Democratic New Jersey Senator Cory Booker announced they intend to reintroduce a resolution in each of their chambers, reiterating their call to bring Habibi home. His wife and young daughter live in California and other members of his family live in New Jersey. Also this summer, the State Department announced it is now offering a $5 million reward for information on Habibi's location and safe return. Stephanie? Scripps News Global Affairs Correspondent Maya Rodriguez, thank you for following that story for us today.

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