Taliban announce release of two Americans held in Afghanistan in a prisoner exchange : NPR

ISLAMABAD — A prisoner swap between the USA and Afghanistan’s Taliban freed two People in change for a Taliban determine imprisoned for all times in California on drug trafficking and terrorism fees, officers stated Tuesday.

The deal got here as Joe Biden, who oversaw the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, handed energy over to returning President Donald Trump. The Taliban praised the swap as a step towards the “normalization” of ties between the U.S. and Afghanistan, however that possible stays a tall order as most international locations on the planet nonetheless do not acknowledge their rule.

The Taliban’s Overseas Ministry in Kabul confirmed the swap, saying two unidentified U.S. residents had been exchanged for Khan Mohammed, who was sentenced to 2 phrases of life imprisonment in 2008.

The household of Ryan Corbett, one American held by the Taliban, confirmed he had been launched in an announcement. Corbett, who had lived in Afghanistan together with his household on the time of the 2021 collapse of the U.S.-backed authorities, was detained by the Taliban in August 2022 whereas on a enterprise journey.

“Our hearts are stuffed with overwhelming gratitude and reward to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him again house after what has been essentially the most difficult and unsure 894 days of our lives,” the household’s assertion stated. They thanked each Trump and Biden, in addition to many authorities officers, for his or her efforts in releasing him.

Corbett’s household additionally praised the Center Japanese nation of Qatar “for his or her very important position in facilitating Ryan’s launch, and for his or her visits to Ryan as the USA’ Defending Energy in Afghanistan.” Vitality-rich Qatar, which hosted negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban through the years, didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Each CNN and The New York Occasions, counting on nameless U.S. officers, recognized the second American launched as William McKenty, although no different particulars have emerged about his identification or what he was doing in Afghanistan.

Mohammed, 55, was a prisoner in California after his 2008 conviction. The Bureau of Prisons early Tuesday listed Mohammed as not being of their custody.

Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesperson for the Overseas Ministry, stated Mohammed had arrived in Afghanistan and was together with his household. There have been no speedy plans to have fun or mark his freedom, Takal added.

Mohammed was detained on the battlefield in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province and later taken to the U.S. A federal jury convicted him on fees of securing heroin and opium that he knew have been sure for the USA and, in doing so, helping terrorism exercise.

The Justice Division on the time referred to Mohammed as “a violent jihadist and narcotics trafficker” who “sought to kill U.S. troopers in Afghanistan utilizing rockets.” He was the primary individual to be convicted on U.S. narco-terrorism legal guidelines.

Earlier than Biden left workplace, his administration had been attempting to work out a deal to free Corbett in addition to George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi in change for Muhammad Rahim, one of many remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, was taken by the Taliban’s intelligence providers in December 2022 whereas touring via the nation. Habibi, an Afghan-American businessman who labored as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications firm, additionally went lacking in 2022. The Taliban have denied they’ve Habibi.

Officers in Washington didn’t reply to requests for remark early Tuesday after Trump’s inauguration the day earlier than.

The Taliban referred to as the change the results of “lengthy and fruitful negotiations” with the U.S. and stated it was instance of fixing issues via dialogue.

“The Islamic Emirate seems positively on the actions of the USA of America that assist the normalization and improvement of relations between the 2 international locations,” it stated.

The Taliban have been attempting to make inroads in being acknowledged, partly to flee the financial tailspin attributable to its takeover. Billions in worldwide funds have been frozen, and tens of hundreds of extremely expert Afghans fled the nation and took their cash with them.