Anna CorbettTwo Americans detained by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been exchanged for an Afghan jailed in the US on drug-trafficking and terrorism charges.
The news comes after Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty were released. Afghani Khan Mohammad was serving a life sentence in a federal prison in California on drug-trafficking and terrorism charges.
A statement from the Taliban government in Kabul announced the deal, which was reached just before President Joe Biden ended his term.
Mr Corbett's release was confirmed by his family. American media, citing official sources, identified McKenty as the second American.
The deal — reportedly the culmination of two years of negotiations — was struck just before Joe Biden handed over power to Donald Trump on Monday.
“Afghan fighter Khan Mohammad imprisoned in America was released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country,” the Taliban foreign ministry said in a statement.
Ryan Corbett's family thanked both administrations as well as Qatar for what they described as a vital role.
“Today our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan's life and bringing him home after the most challenging and uncertain 894 days of our lives,” the family said.
Mr Corbett lived in Afghanistan for many years with his family and was detained by the Taliban more than two years ago when he returned from a business trip.
There are few details about Mr McKenty, whose family has asked for privacy.
AFPKhan Mohammad was a member of the Taliban captured in Afghanistan during the US military engagement. He was in prison in 2008. Joe Biden commuted his sentence just before leaving office.
The Taliban called the exchange the result of “long and fruitful negotiations” with the US and “a good example of solving problems through dialogue”.
“The Islamic Emirate views positively the actions of the United States of America, which help to normalize and develop relations between the two countries,” the statement said.
Since the Taliban took power in 2021, they have not been officially recognized by any government.
While the move is unlikely to change relations between Kabul and Washington, more talks could follow – two other Americans are still in Afghanistanbelieved to be George Glaesman and Mahmoud Habibi.
The Taliban also want the release of an Afghan man who is one of the few remaining prisoners at the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay.
At a rally in Washington on the eve of his inauguration, President Trump threatened to freeze humanitarian aid to Afghanistan unless the Taliban returned military equipment seized after the US withdrawal in 2021.
USA The 2022 Department of Defense report. estimated that $7 billion worth of military equipment was abandoned in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American forces.