Archive · 9 Aug 2025
US Citizen Detained in Afghanistan, Allegedly Linked to CIA Operation
A U.S. citizen named Mahmood Habibi was arrested in Afghanistan by the Taliban.
The Taliban says they didn't arrest him, but witnesses say they saw it happen.
The U.S. government thinks he's being held against his will.
The arrest may be connected to the CIA using cameras to find a top al Qaeda leader, who was later killed in a drone strike.
Habibi worked for a company the CIA used to find the al Qaeda leader.
The U.S. is trying to get Habibi released.
His family has not seen him since the arrest.
Mahmood Habibi, a U.S. citizen, was arrested by the Taliban in Kabul on August 10, 2022.
Witness accounts suggest the Taliban’s intelligence agency detained Habibi, contradicting their denials.
The CIA allegedly used cameras on cell towers, part of the company Habibi worked for, to locate al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Habibi was arrested shortly after returning to Kabul from a work trip; the CIA has not commented.
The U.S. government considers Habibi a hostage and is working to secure his release.
- Who
- Mahmood Habibi, the Taliban, and the CIA.
- What
- Mahmood Habibi, a U.S. citizen, was arrested in Kabul by the Taliban.
- When
- August 10, 2022
- Where
- Kabul, Afghanistan
- Why
- The Taliban likely detained Habibi because the CIA had penetrated the company where he worked and used its technology to locate an al Qaeda leader.
Taliban
U.S. and Witnesses
Detainment
Taliban
Deny detaining Habibi
U.S. and Witnesses
Witness statements and U.S. government evidence indicate their involvement
- Name
- Mahmood Habibi
- Nationality
- U.S. citizen
- Arrest Date
- August 10, 2022
- Arresting Entity
- Taliban
- Possible Cause
- CIA investigation
- Location of arrest
- Kabul