The Taliban government announced a high-profile prisoner exchange with the United States, releasing two American citizens in return for an Afghan fighter.
The Afghan foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday that Khan Mohammed, who had been serving a life sentence in California, returned home.
The ministry noted Mohammed’s arrest occurred nearly two decades ago in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province.
While the exact number of Americans released was undisclosed, US media identified two: Ryan Corbett and William McKenty.
Corbett’s family expressed immense gratitude, celebrating his return after 894 harrowing days in Taliban custody.
The family acknowledged the efforts of both the Biden and Trump administrations, as well as Qatar’s mediating role.
,They called for the release of two other Americans still detained in Afghanistan.
Little is known about McKenty’s activities in Afghanistan, and his family has requested privacy.
Reports also highlight two other Americans—George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi—remaining in Taliban custody.
The exchange reflects ongoing diplomatic complexities following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 and the controversial US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The Taliban, unrecognized internationally, seeks normalized relations while under scrutiny for restricting women’s rights.
Describing the swap as “a good example of resolving issues through dialogue,” the Taliban expressed hopes for improved ties with the United States.
Mohammed’s life sentence stemmed from a 2008 US conviction for narco-terrorism, marking a historic legal precedent.
His release follows other recent repatriations of Afghan prisoners from Guantanamo Bay.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the swap underscores the fragile, evolving relationship between the United States and the Taliban.
