Two Americans held by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been exchanged for an Afghan jailed in the US on drug-trafficking and terrorism charges.
The news came after Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty were acquitted. An Afghan man, Khan Mohmmad, was serving a life sentence in a federal prison in California for drug trafficking and terrorism.
A statement from the Taliban government in Kabul announced the deal, which was made just before President Joe Biden ended his term.
Mr Corbett’s release was confirmed by his family. American media, citing official sources, identified Mr. McKenty as another American.
The deal — reportedly the culmination of two years of negotiations — was struck shortly before Joe Biden handed over power to Donald Trump on Monday.
“Afghan fighter Khan Mohammed detained in America has been released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country,” the Taliban’s foreign ministry announced.
Ryan Corbett’s family thanked both administrations as well as Qatar for what they described as his crucial 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 with his family for years and was arrested 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.
Khan Mohammad was a member of the Taliban who was captured in Afghanistan during the US military engagement. He was closed in 2008. Joe Biden commuted the sentence shortly before leaving office.
The Taliban called the exchange the result of “long and fruitful negotiations” with the US and “a good example of resolving issues through dialogue.”
“The Islamic Emirate looks positively at the actions of the United States of America that help normalize and develop relations between the two countries,” the statement said.
Since the Taliban took power in 2021, no government has officially recognized them.
While the move is unlikely to change relations between Kabul and Washington, new negotiations may follow – two more Americans are still in Afghanistanbelieved to be George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi.
The Taliban are also demanding the release of an Afghan man who is one of the few remaining prisoners at the US detention center Guantanamo Bay.
At a rally in Washington ahead of his inauguration, President Trump threatened to cut off humanitarian aid to Afghanistan if the Taliban did not return military equipment seized after the US withdrawal in 2021.
USA A 2022 Department of Defense report estimated that $7 billion worth of military equipment was left behind in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American forces.
