NEW DELHI: US President Joe Biden called on the Taliban to immediately release US Navy veteran Mark Frerichs who was taken hostage in Afghanistan, two years ago. 

“The Taliban must immediately release Mark before it can expect any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy. This is not negotiable,” Biden said, in a statement, on the eve of two-year anniversary of the kidnapping of Mark Frerichs.

“Threatening the safety of Americans or any innocent civilians is always unacceptable, and hostage-taking is an act of particular cruelty and cowardice,” Biden asserted.

Reiterating his commitment to bring back Mark to his home country, Biden said: “To Mark, and to all the Americans being held hostage and wrongfully detained overseas, and to all their families and friends who are enduring the nightmare of their absence: know that my administration will continue to work steadfastly until every American being unjustly held against their will comes home.”

Mark worked as a civil engineer in Afghanistan for over a decade. The Taliban took over control of Kabul on August 15 last year and following this the country has been battered by deepening economic, humanitarian and security crisis.