U.S. citizen freed from Taliban custody after Qatar mediation

A U.S. citizen has been released from Kabul after a senior U.S. delegation led by Adam Boehler, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, met with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul.

Amir Amiri, the U.S. citizen, had been detained in Afghanistan since December 2024. He was released after months of negotiations between Washington and Kabul with mediation by Qatar.

In a statement released by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials said the issue of detainees is not viewed from a political perspective. According to the statement, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said the release of Amir Amiri demonstrates “that the Government of Afghanistan does not view issues concerning foreign nationals from a political perspective, and reiterated that diplomacy provides pathways for resolving such matters.”

Mr Muttaqi called the release of Amir Amiri a “positive step forward” and thanked the State of Qatar “for its effective role in facilitating prisoner releases.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the release of Amir Amiri from custody and thanked Qatar for its mediation. In a social media post on X, Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote, “Today we welcome home Amir Amiri, an American who was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan. I want to thank Qatar for helping secure his freedom. President Donald Trump has made it clear we will not stop until every American unjustly detained abroad is back home.”

Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, also welcomed the release of Amir Amiri, calling it a positive and significant step toward improving relations between the United States and Afghanistan.

In an X post, he wrote, “This is positive and a significant step in addressing a key obstacle in improving relations between the United States and Afghanistan.”

He further expressed hope that the issue of other American prisoners will also be resolved transparently and positively. He said, “I expect this issue to be completely solved, with full clarity and a positive resolution regarding our remaining citizens, and with an understanding that the Taliban do not intend to repeat this practice of hostage-taking in the future.”

Adam Boehler, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, told Fox News, “When we went to Kabul to pick up George Glezmann six months ago, I asked to see Amir Amiri. He was brought to the airport gate and when he saw us he started to cry. Leaving an American was the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life and I promised him that we would come back for him.”

Boehler further added that “Amir Amiri became a citizen by putting his life at risk fighting for our country and our troops. Today we repay the favour. God bless America and God bless the President.”

Amiri’s release follows closely on the heels of another high-profile case. Just last week, the Taliban freed a British elderly couple who had spent eight months in captivity. Barbie Reynolds, 76, and her husband Peter, 80, were released after lengthy negotiations involving Qatari, Afghan, and British officials. The pair had lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades, running an education charity. Despite their detention, Barbie Reynolds said they would return if given the chance. Both hold Afghan citizenship.

Neither Washington nor Kabul has disclosed how many American citizens remain in custody, but officials on both sides say they want talks to continue on the unresolved cases.

Zakir Jalali, head of the second political department of the Afghan Foreign Ministry, said the release of an American prisoner in Afghanistan “can create an opportunity to expand ties in other areas, based on mutual respect and shared interests.”

He further added, “What matters most is that both sides have reached this understanding and are determined to resolve the issue of prisoners appropriately, while continuing discussions on other matters.”

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