Two Americans Freed from Afghanistan in Last-Minute Deal Before Biden Leaves Office

Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were released in exchange for an Afghan Taliban member serving a life sentence in the U.S.

In a last-minute diplomatic maneuver, the United States secured the release of two Americans held in Afghanistan just hours before President Joe Biden left office. The deal, negotiated under the Biden administration, involved the exchange of an Afghan Taliban prisoner who had been serving a life sentence in the U.S., according to sources familiar with the agreement.

Though the arrangement was finalized while Biden was still in the White House, Americans Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were not released until early Tuesday local time—after Donald Trump had already been sworn in as president. The reason for the delay remains unclear, with differing accounts from sources involved in the negotiations.

A High-Stakes Exchange

Taliban officials confirmed the release of two unidentified American nationals in exchange for Khan Muhammad, an Afghan man arrested in Nangarhar province nearly two decades ago. Muhammad had been convicted in the U.S. in 2008 on narcoterrorism and heroin distribution charges, with prosecutors alleging he sought to procure rockets for attacks on U.S. forces and trafficked opium meant to be processed into heroin and smuggled into the United States.

Corbett, a longtime resident of Afghanistan before the U.S. troop withdrawal in 2021, had been detained since August 2022 and was classified by the U.S. State Department as "wrongfully detained." His family, who had been advocating for his release, expressed their gratitude.

"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.

Less is publicly known about McKenty, whose family had kept his case private.

A Diplomatic Effort Two Years in the Making

Negotiations for the Americans’ release had been ongoing for two years, with several rounds of talks between the U.S. and Taliban facilitated by Qatari mediators in Doha. A diplomat familiar with the discussions confirmed that Roger Carstens, the U.S. special envoy for hostage affairs, was in Doha at the time of the exchange.

Both the Corbett family and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged Qatar’s pivotal role in brokering the agreement.

Concerns for Those Still Detained

While celebrating Corbett and McKenty’s return, the Corbett family emphasized the ongoing plight of other Americans still in Taliban custody, including George Glezmann and Mahmoud Habibi, whose potential release has been speculated.

"It was our hope that Ryan, George, and Mahmoud would be returned to their families together, and we cannot imagine the pain that our good fortune will bring them," the family said. "We recognize the immense privilege of our family’s reunion today and pledge to keep praying—and fighting—for George and Mahmoud’s swift release."

The Taliban has previously accused detained Americans of espionage and proselytizing Christianity, acts considered serious offenses under Afghanistan’s Islamic law.

Biden’s Record on Hostage Negotiations

During his presidency, Biden oversaw the return of more than 75 Americans detained worldwide, including high-profile prisoner swaps with China and Russia. Earlier this month, he had spoken with the families of Corbett, Glezmann, and Habibi, underscoring the administration’s commitment to securing their freedom.

While the Trump administration has not commented on the Americans’ release, the Biden team, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Special Envoy Adam Boehler, played key roles in securing the deal.

For Corbett and McKenty, the ordeal is now over, but the fate of other Americans still held in Afghanistan remains uncertain.