Prisoner Exchange between Kabul and Washington Mediated by Qatar

Kabul announced the release of two American citizens in exchange for an Afghan citizen freed by Washington, under an agreement mediated by Qatar. Doha played a significant role in previous peace talks that culminated in the Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan.

In a statement posted Tuesday on the X platform, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan’s interim government described the negotiations between Kabul and Washington as “lengthy and fruitful.”

• Critical Points Mentioned in an American Report on the ISIS Organization

• After the American report, how did the chaotic Western withdrawal lead to a disaster in Afghanistan?

The statement noted that an Afghan citizen named Khan Mohammed, who had been detained in the United States, returned to his country in exchange for the release of two American citizens held in Afghanistan. Khan Mohammed had been sentenced to life imprisonment by a U.S. court and was serving his sentence in California.

The Afghan government thanked Qatar for its mediation, emphasizing that this agreement exemplifies the importance of dialogue in resolving disputes. It also praised the U.S. for accepting the agreement, noting that it contributed to normalizing and enhancing bilateral relations.

• How did U.S. get to Al-Zawahiri’s hideout in Afghanistan?

• British Report Warns – Taliban-ruled Afghanistan becomes new terrorist safe haven

The statement did not provide details about the identities of the released American citizens but mentioned that the Afghan detainee had been arrested in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, nearly 20 years ago.

According to CNN, the two released American citizens are Ryan Corbett and William McEntee, who were held in Afghanistan as part of the prisoner exchange.

The announcement of this prisoner exchange comes a day after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, succeeding Joe Biden.

• Taliban leads Afghanistan into world’s worst humanitarian crisis

• Afghanistan… New US sanctions increase the isolation of the Taliban

Qatar had previously played a decisive role in the Afghan file, mediating between U.S. authorities and the Taliban for peace talks that resulted in the withdrawal of American forces and the Taliban‘s assumption of power in August 2021.

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was conducted under security assurances from the Taliban, who had governed the country from 1996 to 2001, imposing numerous restrictions on women and activities deemed contrary to Islamic law.

Interestingly, the 2020 agreement signed between the U.S. and the Taliban was viewed as a “gift” from Qatar to U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the 2020 presidential elections. The latest mediation, which led to the release of American prisoners, is now seen as a second “gift” for the current president on the eve of his second inauguration.

• A new Terrorist Era – How did the Taliban and Al-Qaeda lead Afghanistan to the abyss?

• Under the Taliban, will Afghanistan become a center of global terrorism again?