Afghan Taliban government announces prisoner swap with US

The Taliban government has confirmed the release of two American citizens in exchange for an Afghan fighter held in the United States, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough facilitated by Qatar.

In an official statement, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Khan Mohammad, an Afghan national sentenced to life imprisonment in the US nearly two decades ago, has been freed and returned to Afghanistan. Mohammad, who was arrested in 2006 on narco-terrorism charges, arrived in Jalalabad on Tuesday.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that two American detainees were released but did not disclose their identities. However, the family of Ryan Corbett, a US citizen detained by the Taliban since 2022, confirmed his release. They expressed gratitude to both the Biden and Trump administrations, as well as to Qatar for facilitating the exchange.

“We are overwhelmed with gratitude and relief as Ryan returns home after 894 days of uncertainty,” the Corbett family shared in a statement, calling for the release of other detained Americans.

US media has identified the second released citizen as William McKenty, though details surrounding his case remain scarce, with his family requesting privacy. Meanwhile, at least two more Americans, George Glezmann and Afghan-American businessman Mahmood Habibi, remain in Taliban custody.

The prisoner exchange follows a shift in US leadership, with former President Joe Biden handing over power to Donald Trump just a day before the deal was finalized. The Taliban, which had previously expressed hopes for a “new chapter” in US-Afghan relations after Trump’s election victory, welcomed the swap as a positive step.

“This exchange is an example of resolving disputes through dialogue, and we extend special gratitude to our brotherly country Qatar for its efforts,” the Taliban government stated.

While no country officially recognizes the Taliban-led administration, such diplomatic negotiations signal efforts to ease tensions between the two nations. However, major obstacles remain, particularly regarding human rights concerns and restrictions on Afghan women’s freedoms, which have been a key point of contention for the US and other international powers.

This latest swap underscores the Taliban’s strategy of using detained foreign nationals as leverage in diplomatic dealings while also highlighting Qatar’s growing role as a mediator in international conflicts.