KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan 27, (AP): A Taliban ambassador on Monday warned the new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio against making threats after saying he would place bounties on Afghanistan’s rulers for their continued detention of U.S. nationals.

Marco Rubio warned the Taliban of a “VERY BIG bounty” on its leaders if reports of more American hostages are confirmed. A Senate resolution calls for the release of Mahmood Habibi, but the Taliban denies holding him.

The U.S. may place a "very big bounty" on the top leaders of the Taliban, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday, adding he was hearing that the Taliban held more American hostages than previously reported.

In a post on X Saturday evening, Rubio said, “Just hearing the Taliban is holding more American hostages than has been reported. If this is true, we will have to immediately place a VERY BIG bounty on their top leaders, maybe even bigger than the one we had on Bin Laden.”

A year ago, a prisoner exchange between the United States and the Taliban brought relief to families waiting for the return of their loved ones. The deal was seen as a rare moment of cooperation between Washington and the Afghan government.