Taliban Announces Release of Two US Citizens in Prisoner Swap Agreement
The Taliban confirms the release of American nationals in exchange for an Afghan serving a life sentence in California.
Kabul, Afghanistan – The Taliban government has confirmed the release of two American citizens in a prisoner swap with the United States. The exchange was facilitated by negotiations between the Taliban and US officials, resulting in the release of an Afghan man serving a life sentence in a California prison.
While the identities of the American detainees were not disclosed, the Afghan Foreign Ministry revealed that the swap involved Khan Mohammad, an Afghan national arrested two decades ago in Nangarhar province, who had been incarcerated in the United States.
“Following extensive and productive negotiations between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the United States of America, an agreement was reached facilitating the release of Afghan Mujahid, Khan Mohammad, from a US prison in exchange for the release of American nationals,” the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry posted on social media on Tuesday.
The Associated Press reported that one of the Americans involved in the exchange was Ryan Corbett, a businessman who had been detained by the Taliban in August 2022 while visiting Afghanistan. Corbett’s family expressed immense relief and gratitude, saying their hearts were filled with “overwhelming gratitude for sustaining his life and bringing him back home after what had been the most challenging and uncertain 894 days of our lives.”
The exchange, which was brokered by Qatar, marks the latest development in a series of diplomatic efforts between the US and the Taliban. The Afghan Foreign Ministry described the agreement as the result of “long and fruitful negotiations” with American officials.
This announcement came just a day after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump. During his first term in office, Trump oversaw a historic agreement with the Taliban, leading to the US military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Following Trump’s re-election win in November, the Taliban expressed hopes for a “new chapter” in relations with the United States.
The details of the negotiations and the identities of the second US citizen involved in the swap remain unclear, but the exchange signifies a continued diplomatic effort between the US and the Taliban.