US trades Taliban prisoner for two American detainees

Two Americans detained by the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been released in exchange for an Afghan man imprisoned in the United States on drug trafficking and terrorism charges. This news comes after the release of Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty. The released Afghan man, named Khan Mohammed, was previously serving time in a federal prison in California for drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

The Taliban government in Kabul issued a statement announcing the agreement, which was reached shortly before President Joe Biden left office. Corbett's family confirmed his release. U.S. media, citing official sources, confirmed that McKenty was the second American released. The deal was reportedly reached after two years of negotiations, and was completed just before Joe Biden handed over power to Donald Trump on Monday.

The Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release, "An Afghan warrior, Khan Mohammed, imprisoned in the United States, has been released in exchange for the American citizens and returned to the country." Ryan Corbett's family expressed gratitude to both administrations and to Qatar for their crucial role in this matter. They stated, "Today, our hearts are filled with gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan's life and bringing him home after 894 of the most challenging and uncertain days of our lives." Corbett and his family had lived in Afghanistan for years, and he was detained by the Taliban two years ago when he returned for a business trip.

Few details are known about McKenty, and his family has requested privacy. Khan Mohammed is a Taliban member who was captured during the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan. He was imprisoned in 2008. Joe Biden commuted his sentence shortly before leaving office. The Taliban called the exchange the result of "long and fruitful negotiations" with the United States and "a good example of resolving issues through dialogue." They also stated, "The Islamic Emirate views positively the actions of the United States of America, which help the normalization and development of relations between the two countries."

Since the Taliban took power in 2021, they have not been officially recognized by any government. While this move is unlikely to change relations between Kabul and Washington, more negotiations are likely to follow. It is believed that two other Americans, George Glezman and Mahmoud Habibi, are still in Afghanistan. The Taliban are also seeking the release of an Afghan man still held at the U.S. detention camp at Guantanamo Bay. President Trump, at a rally in Washington on the eve of his inauguration, threatened to cut humanitarian aid to Afghanistan unless the Taliban returned the U.S. military equipment seized after the 2021 withdrawal. A 2022 Pentagon report estimated that $7 billion worth of military equipment was left in Afghanistan after the U.S. military withdrawal.