Taliban Confirms Release of U.S. Nationals in Prisoner Exchange
Afghan Government Swaps Two Americans for Inmate Serving Life Sentence in U.S.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has announced the release of two detained American citizens as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul did not disclose the identities of the released Americans but confirmed they were exchanged for Khan Mohammad, an Afghan national who was arrested in Nangarhar province two decades ago and had been serving a life sentence in a California prison.
“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 an Afghan Mujahid, Khan Mohammad, from a U.S. prison in exchange for the release of American nationals,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday via a statement on X.
The family of Ryan Corbett, a U.S. citizen detained by the Taliban in 2022, confirmed his release and expressed gratitude to both the Biden and Trump administrations, as well as the Qatari government.
“Today, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him back home after what has been the most challenging and uncertain 894 days of our lives,” the Corbett family said in a statement on their website.
The Afghan Foreign Ministry emphasized that Qatar played a key mediating role in the prisoner exchange, which was the result of “long and fruitful negotiations” with Washington. Qatar’s lead negotiator, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, confirmed that all individuals involved in the exchange transited through Doha.
This announcement follows the recent inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously oversaw a 2020 agreement with the Taliban that paved the way for the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Following Trump’s election victory in November, the Taliban government expressed hopes for a “new chapter” in relations with the United States.