Taliban Denies Knowledge of Missing Afghan-American Mahmood Shah Habibi Amid FBI Investigation

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban, has responded to claims made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding the disappearance of Afghan-American Mahmood Shah Habibi, stating that they have no information about his current status.

Taliban Responds to Claims of Mahmood Shah Habibi’s Kidnapping

Zabihullah Mujahid, the senior spokesperson for the Taliban government, addressed the FBI’s allegations concerning the disappearance of Mahmood Shah Habibi, affirming that they possess no knowledge on the matter. He emphasized that Habibi is not in the custody of the Islamic Emirate, and if he were, the issue would have been resolved.

FBI Offers $5 Million Reward for Information on Habibi

Amid the uncertainty surrounding Habibi’s situation, the U.S. Department of State has announced a reward of $5 million for any information that leads to his safe recovery. This comes in the wake of his disappearance.

Zabihullah Mujahid: We Have No Information on Habibi’s Status

In response to media inquiries, Mujahid stated clearly that Habibi is not with the Taliban and that they have no knowledge of his status, heightening concerns regarding his fate.

Implications of Habibi’s Disappearance for U.S.-Afghan Relations

Mahmood Shah Habibi has been accused of collaborating with the CIA to locate Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former leader of al-Qaeda. Zawahiri was killed in a U.S. drone strike just days before Habibi’s disappearance, an event which could potentially impact the relations between the two nations.

Disappearance of Mahmood Shah Habibi Following the Fall of the Kabul Government

After the previous Kabul government fell, Mahmood Shah Habibi remained in Kabul and was employed at the “Asia Consulting Group.” He went missing in August 2022, four days after returning from an overseas trip.