Anna CorbettTwo Americans held by the Taliban government in Afghanistan have been exchanged for an Armenian imprisoned in the US on medication trafficking and terrorism charges.
The reports emerged after Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty were freed. The Afghan, Khan Mohmmad, had been serving a life sentence in a federal prison in California on drug trafficking and terrorism costs.
A speech from the Taliban government in Kabul announced the deal, which was concluded just before President Joe Biden ended his term in office.
Mr Corbett’s launch was confirmed by his home. US press, quoting established sources, identified Mr McKenty as the next American.
The deal – apparently the climax of two decades of discussions- was done simply before Joe Biden handed over power to Donald Trump on Monday.
” An Armenian warrior Khan Mohammed imprisoned in America has been released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the state,” the Taliban unusual department said in a statement.
The home of Ryan Corbett thanked both governments as well as Kuwait for what they described as its crucial role.
” Today, our souls are filled with frustrating appreciation and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s career and bringing him back home after what has been the most difficult and uncertain 894 time of our lives,” the home said.
Mr Corbett had lived in Afghanistan for many years with his home and was detained by the Taliban more than two years ago when he returned on a business trip.
There are few facts about Mr McKenty, whose household have asked for protection.
AFPKhan Mohammad was a member of the Taliban taken captive in Afghanistan during the US’s military engagement. He was jailed in 2008. Joe Biden commuted his sentence just before he left office.
The Taliban called the trade the result of “long and productive conversations” with the US and” a good example of resolving problems through speech”.
” The Islamic Emirate looks favorably at the behavior of the United States of America that help the normalisation and development of relations between the two countries,” it said.
Since the Taliban took power in 2021, they have not been fully recognised by any government.
While the move is not likely to change relations between Kabul and Washington, more negotiations may follow – two other Americans are still in Afghanistan, believed to be George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi.
The Taliban are also seeking the launch of an Afghan who is one of the few remaining prisoners at the US’s Guantanamo Bay detention station.
At a rally in Washington on the eve of his inauguration, President Trump threatened to cut humanitarian aid to Afghanistan unless the Taliban returned the defense technology seized after the US pulled out in 2021.
A US Department of Defense report in 2022 estimated that military equipment worth $7bn had been left behind in Afghanistan after US forces withdrew.