US exchanges Taliban prisoners for US detainees Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty

Two Americans detained by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been exchanged for an Afghan imprisoned in the United States on drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

The news emerged after Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty were released. The Afghan, Khan Mohmmad, was serving a life sentence in a federal prison in California on drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

A statement from the Taliban government in Kabul announced the deal, which was concluded just before President Joe Biden ended his term.

Mr Corbett’s release was confirmed by his family. American media, citing official sources, identified McKenty as the second American.

The deal, reportedly the culmination of two years of negotiations, was struck just before Joe Biden handed power to Donald Trump on Monday.

“An Afghan fighter, Khan Mohammed, imprisoned in the United States, has been released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country,” the Taliban Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Ryan Corbett’s family thanked both administrations and Qatar for what they described as their vital role.

“Today, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him home after what has been the most challenging and uncertain 894 days of our lives,” the family said.

Corbett had lived in Afghanistan for many years with his family and was detained by the Taliban more than two years ago while returning from a business trip.

There are few details about McKenty, whose family has asked for privacy.

Khan Mohammad was a member of the Taliban captured in Afghanistan during the US military engagement. he was imprisoned in 2008. Joe Biden commuted his sentence just before leaving office.

The Taliban called the exchange the result of “long and fruitful negotiations” with the United States and “a good example of problem-solving through dialogue.”

“The Islamic Emirate welcomes the actions of the United States of America that help the normalization and development of relations between the two countries,” he stated.

Since the Taliban took power in 2021, no government has formally recognized them.

While the move is not likely to change relations between Kabul and Washington, further negotiations may follow. Two other Americans are still in Afghanistan.believed to be George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi.

The Taliban are also seeking the release of an Afghan who is one of the few remaining prisoners in the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay.

At a rally in Washington on the eve of his inauguration, President Trump threatened to cut off humanitarian aid to Afghanistan unless the Taliban returned military equipment seized after the United States withdrew in 2021.

a we A 2022 Department of Defense report estimated that $7 billion worth of military equipment had been left behind. in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US forces.