KABUL: The Taliban authorities have released an American citizen of Afghan origin, Amir Amiri, following a high-level diplomatic engagement between US officials and the Taliban leadership in Kabul.
The US President’s Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Roger Carstens, and the Special Envoy for Hostage Response, Adam Boehler, visited Kabul, where they held detailed discussions with the Taliban’s Foreign Minister.
In addition, Former White House advisor Sebastian Gorka also accompanied the U.S. delegation. Amiri, who had been in Taliban custody since September 2024, was handed over to American officials after the meeting.
In this regard, this was the delegation’s third visit to Afghanistan in recent months. Collectively, the diplomatic missions have secured the release of five American citizens so far, indicating what officials describe as cautious yet meaningful progress in sensitive negotiations.
In this sense, the US State Department has not publicly disclosed the details of the talks, officials have focused on the fact that securing the safe return of detained Americans remains a top priority for the Biden administration.
The Taliban, for their part, framed the release as a gesture of goodwill, mentioning the importance of maintaining constructive engagement with Washington.
The group has sought international recognition and relief from sanctions, but progress has been slow due to global concerns over governance, human rights, and women’s education in Afghanistan.
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However, Amiri’s return is expected to bring relief to his family in the United States, while also indicating that diplomacy, even under difficult circumstances, can yield tangible results.
