Two Americans detained in Afghanistan have been released as part of a prisoner exchange involving a Taliban fighter serving a life sentence in the United States, Afghan authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
“An Afghan fighter Khan Mohammad imprisoned in America has been released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry announced.
Khan Mohammad, extradited to the U.S. nearly 20 years ago, had been serving a life sentence in California for drug trafficking.
The U.S. Justice Department previously described him as “a violent jihadist and narcotics trafficker” who “sought to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan using rockets.”
Reports from U.S. media revealed that the freed Americans are Ryan Corbett and William McKenty.
Corbett, abducted by the Taliban during a business trip in 2022, had been in captivity for 894 days. His family expressed deep appreciation following his release.
“Our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him back home after what has been the most challenging and uncertain 894 days of our lives,” the family stated.
They also acknowledged the efforts of both the Biden and Trump administrations and extended their thanks to Qatar for its critical role in securing Corbett’s release.
Remaining U.S. Hostages in Taliban Custody
The release of Corbett and McKenty leaves two other Americans, George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi, still in Taliban custody.
Negotiations for their freedom, which reportedly involve Muhammad Rahim, a detainee at Guantanamo Bay, have yet to yield results.
The prisoner exchange, finalized in the final hours of the Biden administration, comes amid strained relations between the U.S. and Afghanistan.
A Rare Act of Cooperation
The deal, brokered by Qatar, represents a rare instance of collaboration between the U.S. and the Taliban.
The group commended the process, stating, “The Islamic Emirate looks positively at the actions of the United States of America that help the normalization and development of relations between the two countries.”
Despite this gesture, the Taliban government continues to face international isolation due to human rights concerns, particularly its treatment of women.
