Taliban announce launch of two Individuals held in Afghanistan in a prisoner trade

ISLAMABAD — A prisoner swap between the USA and Afghanistan’s Taliban freed two Individuals in trade for a Taliban determine imprisoned for all times in California on drug trafficking prices, officers mentioned Tuesday.

The deal got here as President 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 probably stays a tall order as most nations on the earth nonetheless do not acknowledge the militants’ rule.

The Taliban’s International 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 along with his household on the time of the 2021 collapse of the U.S.-backed authorities, was kidnapped by the Taliban in August 2022 whereas on a enterprise journey.

“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 household’s assertion mentioned. They thanked each Trump and Biden, in addition to many authorities officers, for his or her efforts in liberating him.

Corbett’s household additionally praised the Center East nation of Qatar for “for their vital role in facilitating Ryan’s release, and for their visits to Ryan as the United States’ Protecting Power 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.

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 trade 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 by way of 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 has denied that it has Habibi.

It wasn’t instantly clear if both of the 2 males was the opposite launched. 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 trade the results of “long and fruitful negotiations” with the U.S. and mentioned it was an excellent instance of fixing issues by way of dialogue.

“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,” it mentioned.

The Taliban has been attempting to make inroads in being acknowledged, partially to flee the financial tailspin brought on by its takeover. Billions in worldwide funds had been frozen, and tens of 1000’s of extremely expert Afghans fled the nation and took their cash with them.