Anna Corbett
Ryan Corbett pictured with his wife Anna in an undated photo
Two Americans detained by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been exchanged for an Afghan imprisoned in the United States on drug trafficking and terrorism charges.
The news emerged after the release of Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty. Afghan Khan Mohmad 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 agreement, reached just before the end of President Joe Biden’s term.
Mr Corbett’s release was confirmed by his family. US media, citing official sources, identified Mr McKenty as the second American.
The deal – which would be the culmination of two years of negotiations – was reached just before Joe Biden handed over power to Donald Trump on Monday.
“An Afghan fighter Khan Mohammed imprisoned in the United States was released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country,” the Taliban Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Ryan Corbett’s family thanked both administrations and Qatar for what they described as its vital role.
“Today our hearts are filled with immense gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him home after what has been the most difficult and uncertain 894 days of our life,” the family said.
Mr Corbett had lived in Afghanistan for many years with his family and was arrested by the Taliban more than two years ago while returning on a business trip.
There are few details about Mr McKenty, whose family has asked for privacy.
AFP
Khan Mohammad spoke to the media on Tuesday upon his return to Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan.
Khan Mohammad was a member of the Taliban captured in Afghanistan during the US military engagement. He was imprisoned in 2008. Joe Biden commuted his sentence just 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 problems through dialogue.”
“The Islamic Emirate views positively the actions of the United States of America which contribute to the normalization and development of relations between the two countries,” he said.
Since the Taliban took power in 2021, they have not been formally recognized by any government.
Even if this decision is not likely to modify relations between Kabul and Washington, other negotiations could follow: two other Americans are still in Afghanistan, these would probably be George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi.
The Taliban are also demanding the release of an Afghan who is one of the few prisoners remaining at the American detention camp at Guantanamo Bay.
At a rally in Washington on the eve of his inauguration, President Trump threatened to cut humanitarian aid to Afghanistan unless the Taliban returned military equipment seized after the 2021 US withdrawal.
A 2022 U.S. Department of Defense report estimated that $7 billion worth of military equipment was left behind in Afghanistan after U.S. forces withdrew.
