Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced before the House Foreign Affairs Committee that the United States is currently reviewing the status of the Taliban as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). This development comes amid ongoing discussions with lawmakers regarding the Taliban's role and activities in Afghanistan.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Rubio made this statement while testifying before the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs concerning the FY26 Department of State Budget Request. During the session held on Capitol Hill, he addressed inquiries regarding the potential classification of the Taliban as a FTO.
Representative Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee, prompted the discussion by questioning whether the US government would officially recognize the Taliban movement in Afghanistan as a FTO. Rubio responded, indicating that the decision is currently under review. The Taliban has previously been designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order 13224 by the US government. Although not formally categorized as a FTO, the US has historically regarded the Taliban as a terrorist group due to their involvement in terrorism and the perceived threat they pose to US security.