Islamabad (Pakistan): The Taliban on Sunday released a US citizen from an Afghan prison, weeks after announcing an agreement with American envoys for a prisoner exchange aimed at normalizing relations.
The Taliban Foreign Ministry’s deputy spokesperson, Zia Ahmad Takal, identified the released individual as Amir Amiri, but did not provide details on when or why he was detained, or the location of his imprisonment.
An official familiar with the release, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Amiri had been held in Afghanistan since December 2024 and is now en route back to the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the release, describing it as a demonstration of the administration’s commitment—reinforced by the president’s recent executive order—to protect American citizens from wrongful detention abroad.
“While this is an important step, other Americans remain unjustly detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will not rest until all our citizens are safely home,” he said.
