The Taliban government announced on Tuesday that it had released two American prisoners in exchange for an Afghan fighter held in the United States. The deal, facilitated by Qatar, marks a significant prisoner exchange between the two nations.
Talks about the exchange began last year but were finalized after outgoing US President Joe Biden handed over power to Donald Trump, who took office on Monday.
The Afghan foreign ministry confirmed the exchange in a statement. It said, “Khan Mohammed, an Afghan fighter imprisoned in the United States, has been released in exchange for American citizens and has returned to the country.”
According to the ministry, Mohammed had been serving a life sentence in California. He was arrested nearly 20 years ago in Nangarhar, a province in eastern Afghanistan.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the release of two American citizens. However, he did not provide further details about the exchange.
One of the released Americans, Ryan Corbett, had been detained by the Taliban since 2022. His family expressed immense gratitude for his return. “Today, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him home after 894 challenging and uncertain days,” the family stated on their website.
The Corbett family thanked both the Biden and Trump administrations, as well as Qatar, for securing Ryan’s release. They also called for the freedom of two other Americans still detained in Afghanistan.
US media identified the second released detainee as William McKenty. Limited information is available about his activities in Afghanistan. His family requested privacy in his case.
Reports indicate that two more Americans remain detained in Afghanistan. One of them, former airline mechanic George Glezmann, has been held for an undisclosed period. Another detainee, Afghan-American businessman Mahmood Habibi, went missing two years ago. In August 2024, the FBI sought information about his disappearance.
The prisoner exchange comes amid strained US-Taliban relations. Biden faced heavy criticism for the chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021. This withdrawal followed a deal between Trump and the Taliban to end the two-decade war.
After Trump’s victory in the November elections, the Taliban government expressed hopes for improved relations with the United States. They have emphasized their desire for positive ties with all nations since returning to power in 2021. However, no country has formally recognized their government. Women’s rights restrictions remain a significant barrier to international recognition.
The Taliban described the prisoner exchange as “a good example of resolving issues through dialogue.” They thanked Qatar for its role in facilitating the agreement. The Afghan government added, “The Islamic Emirate positively views actions by the United States that contribute to normalizing and expanding relations.”
Khan Mohammed’s history highlights his controversial role. In 2008, the US Department of Justice identified him as a member of an “Afghan Taliban cell.” He was arrested in 2006 and sentenced to life in prison for drug and narco-terrorism charges. His case marked the first narco-terrorism conviction in a US federal court.
The Taliban have detained dozens of foreigners since reclaiming power in 2021. The exact number of Afghan citizens held in US custody remains unclear.
At least one Afghan prisoner, Muhammad Rahim, is still held at the US prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. His family called for his release in November 2023.
In February last year, two former Guantanamo prisoners returned to Afghanistan. They had been detained for over 20 years before their release in 2017.
