US Secures Release of Two Americans in Exchange for Taliban Prisoner

Two Americans detained by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been released in exchange for an Afghan prisoner held in the United States on charges of drug trafficking and terrorism. The release of Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty followed a deal brokered shortly before President Joe Biden left office. The Afghan detainee, Khan Mohammad, who had been serving a life sentence in a California federal prison, returned to Afghanistan. The Taliban government in Kabul confirmed the agreement in a statement, announcing the return of Khan Mohammad in exchange for the Americans. Corbett’s family expressed immense gratitude, thanking both the outgoing Biden administration and Qatar for their critical roles in the negotiations. “We are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him home after 894 days of uncertainty,” the family stated. Corbett, who had lived in Afghanistan for years, was detained over two years ago during a business trip. Little information has been provided about McKenty, as his family has requested privacy. Khan Mohammad, a Taliban fighter captured during the U.S. military’s engagement in Afghanistan, had been imprisoned since 2008. His sentence was commuted by President Biden just before leaving office. Mohammad hailed the exchange as a diplomatic success upon his return to Afghanistan. The Taliban’s foreign ministry described the agreement as a result of “long and fruitful negotiations” and suggested it could improve relations between Kabul and Washington. While the exchange marks a significant diplomatic gesture, it is not expected to significantly impact U.S.-Afghan relations, as the Taliban government remains unrecognized internationally. However, the development may lead to future negotiations. Two other Americans, George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi, are believed to still be held in Afghanistan. The Taliban have also requested the release of another Afghan detainee from Guantanamo Bay. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, during a rally prior to his inauguration, threatened to cut humanitarian aid to Afghanistan unless the Taliban returned military equipment taken after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. A 2022 Department of Defense report estimated the value of abandoned U.S. military equipment at $7 billion.