U.S.-Afghan Prisoner Exchange Results in Release of Two Americans
Two Americans exchanged for Taliban member serving life sentences amid efforts to normalize relations.
In a recent prisoner exchange between the United States and the Afghan Taliban, two American citizens were released in exchange for a Taliban member serving life sentences in California.
The exchange involved the release of Ryan Corbett and William McEntee, who were freed before President Joe Biden's term ended and Donald Trump assumed office, according to an official from the newly inaugurated Trump administration.
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Americans were exchanged for Khan Mohammed, who had been sentenced to two life terms in 2008 on charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism.
President Biden, who oversaw the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, handed over power to President Trump.
The Taliban have referred to the exchange as a step toward 'normalizing' relations between the U.S. and Afghanistan.
However, global recognition of the Taliban government remains limited, and it is believed that they continue to hold two more American citizens.
Officials from the Trump administration welcomed the Americans' release, expressing gratitude to Qatar for facilitating the agreement, while urging the Taliban to release other Americans still detained in Afghanistan.
'The Trump administration will continue to demand the release of all Americans held by the Taliban, particularly in light of the billions of dollars in U.S. aid they have received in recent years,' stated White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes.
Ryan Corbett, who was living in Afghanistan with his family at the time of the U.S.-backed Afghan government's collapse in 2021, was detained by the Taliban in August 2022 during a business trip.
The circumstances surrounding William McEntee's presence in Afghanistan remain unclear.
During Biden's tenure, efforts were underway to secure the release of Corbett, along with George Gleason and Mahmood Habibi, in exchange for Mohammad Rahim, one of the remaining detainees in Guantanamo.
The exchange involved the release of Ryan Corbett and William McEntee, who were freed before President Joe Biden's term ended and Donald Trump assumed office, according to an official from the newly inaugurated Trump administration.
The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Americans were exchanged for Khan Mohammed, who had been sentenced to two life terms in 2008 on charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism.
President Biden, who oversaw the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, handed over power to President Trump.
The Taliban have referred to the exchange as a step toward 'normalizing' relations between the U.S. and Afghanistan.
However, global recognition of the Taliban government remains limited, and it is believed that they continue to hold two more American citizens.
Officials from the Trump administration welcomed the Americans' release, expressing gratitude to Qatar for facilitating the agreement, while urging the Taliban to release other Americans still detained in Afghanistan.
'The Trump administration will continue to demand the release of all Americans held by the Taliban, particularly in light of the billions of dollars in U.S. aid they have received in recent years,' stated White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes.
Ryan Corbett, who was living in Afghanistan with his family at the time of the U.S.-backed Afghan government's collapse in 2021, was detained by the Taliban in August 2022 during a business trip.
The circumstances surrounding William McEntee's presence in Afghanistan remain unclear.
During Biden's tenure, efforts were underway to secure the release of Corbett, along with George Gleason and Mahmood Habibi, in exchange for Mohammad Rahim, one of the remaining detainees in Guantanamo.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
