Taliban Deny Role in Disappearance of Afghan-American Businessman As US Pressure Grows

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban authorities have denied any involvement in the disappearance of Afghan-American citizen Mahmood Shah Habibi, who went missing in Kabul in 2022, amid growing pressure from the United States and a $5 million reward offered for information about his whereabouts.

Habibi, a dual citizen and telecommunications executive, was abducted along with his driver more than two years ago in the Afghan capital. The FBI, in a 2024 bulletin, stated it believed the businessman was taken by Taliban military or intelligence forces.