Rubio said in a statement he was designating Afghanistan’s Taliban government as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” demanding that Kabul release all US citizens detained ​in the country, including Mahmood Habibi and Dennis Coyle.

“The Taliban continues to ​use terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or to seek ⁠policy concessions. These despicable tactics need to end,” he said, adding that ​he had concluded it was not safe for Americans to travel to the ​country because of the risk of being unjustly detained.

The US is also seeking the return of the remains of Paul Overby, an author who was last seen close to ​Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan in 2014, two sources familiar with the situation ​said.

The sources said the US could restrict the use of US passports for travel to ‌Afghanistan ⁠if it does not meet the US demands. Such a passport restriction is currently only in place for North Korea.

Rubio on February 27 issued the same determination against Iran, the first country to be designated under an executive order ​signed by President Donald ​Trump in ⁠September.

Rubio warned the US could restrict travel to Iran over its detention of US citizens, but has not ​imposed any restrictions.

The US and Israel launched a war ​against Iran ⁠the day after the determination was announced.

Reuters was unable to reach the government in Afghanistan for comment.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government has previously denied that it detained Habibi, who was ⁠the ​head of Afghanistan’s civil aviation.

CBS News was the ​first to report on the US considering designating Afghanistan as a state sponsor of wrongful detention ​earlier on Monday.