Two Americans held by Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime have been exchanged to an Afghan imprisoned in the United States on drug trafficking and terrorism charges.
"An Afghan fighter Khan Mohammad imprisoned in America has been released in exchange for unidentified American citizens and returned to the country," the Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement.
An agreement was reached following “extensive & productive negotiations between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the United States of America…, we are grateful to the fraternal State of Qatar for its effective role in this regard,” – noted ministry’s post on platform X. The deal – reportedly the culmination of two years of negotiations.
The ministry said Mohammad who had been serving a life sentence in the state of California after being arrested nearly two decades ago in Nangarhar & later sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment in 2008.
US media named the Americans as William McKenty and Ryan Corbett, the latter in Taliban custody since 2022.
The Taliban government on Tuesday called the exchange "a good example of resolving issues through dialogue, expressing special gratitude for the effective role of the brotherly country of Qatar in this regard".
"The Islamic Emirate views positively those actions of the United States that contribute to the normalisation and expansion of relations between the two countries," it added, using the Taliban authorities' name for their government.
U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at a major announcement later this week, without offering any details, during a wide-ranging Oval Office exchange with Canadian leader Mark Carney.
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President Donald Trump called on Vladimir Putin to halt missile strikes on Kyiv, urging a return to peace talks amid rising casualties.
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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confidently announced that there will be no war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing a shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous future for the region.
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Moscow is currently holding a Victory Day parade to mark 80 years since the end of the Great Patriotic War, with foreign delegations and military units participating.
A helicopter crash in Sri Lanka has resulted in six fatalities, according to military sources cited by AFP on Friday.
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Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has announced it will no longer sell goods directly from China to U.S. customers, shifting instead to U.S.-based sellers amid the closure of a long-criticized customs loophole.
Cardinals from 70 nations have gathered in Vatican City to begin the historic conclave to elect the next pope, following the death of Pope Francis 17 days ago. This conclave is the most geographically diverse in Church history, showcasing Francis’ legacy of inclusivity.
Britain has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia, including asset freezes targeting directors of the oil trading firm Coral Energy Group, now known as 2Rivers Group.
Moscow is currently holding a Victory Day parade to mark 80 years since the end of the Great Patriotic War, with foreign delegations and military units participating.
A helicopter crash in Sri Lanka has resulted in six fatalities, according to military sources cited by AFP on Friday.
President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer have reached a trade agreement that lowers U.S. tariffs on British autos, steel, and aluminum, while maintaining a 10% baseline tariff on other goods and boosting American exports of beef and ethanol.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 9th , covering the latest developments you need to know.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are now conducting direct peace talks without Russian mediation, according to Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan. He told Armenian media that Moscow’s mediating role has ended and that direct dialogue is now seen as more effective.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confidently announced that there will be no war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing a shared commitment to a peaceful and prosperous future for the region.
Britain has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia, including asset freezes targeting directors of the oil trading firm Coral Energy Group, now known as 2Rivers Group.
Moscow is currently holding a Victory Day parade to mark 80 years since the end of the Great Patriotic War, with foreign delegations and military units participating.
A helicopter crash in Sri Lanka has resulted in six fatalities, according to military sources cited by AFP on Friday.
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