KABUL, Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s Taliban government announced the release of a detained American citizen on Sunday, a week after an elderly British couple were also released by the authorities.
In a statement, the ministry identified the detainee as Amir Amiri and said he had been handed over to Adam Boehler, Washington’s special envoy on hostages.
Boehler made a rare visit to Kabul earlier this month to discuss the possibility of a prisoner exchange with the Taliban government, AFP reported.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan released an American citizen named Amir Amiri from prison today,” the Foreign Ministry on X, using the official name for the government.
“The Afghan government does not view the issues of citizens from a political angle and makes it clear that ways can be found to resolve issues through diplomacy.”
US hails release as ‘important step forward’
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed the release of a detained American, saying that other US citizens held there should also be returned.
While the handing over of Amir Amiri “marks an important step forward, additional Americans remain unjustly detained in Afghanistan,” Rubio said in a statement. “President Trump will not rest until all our captive citizens are back home.”
Little is known about Amiri’s case, as it has not been widely reported.
Britons Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, were released from a Kabul prison on September 20 after almost eight months in detention.
Qatar helped to mediate both releases, according to the Taliban government.
