The Taliban government has confirmed a prisoner exchange with the United States, facilitated by Qatar, marking a rare diplomatic move between the two nations.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Afghanistan’s foreign ministry announced the release of Khan Mohammad, an Afghan fighter who had been serving a life sentence in California after being arrested nearly two decades ago in Nangarhar province. In return, the Taliban released an undisclosed number of American detainees.
The ministry did not provide further details on the number of Americans involved in the exchange. However, the deal comes a day after Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, raising speculation about potential shifts in US-Afghan relations.
Following Trump’s election victory in November, the Taliban had expressed hope for a “new chapter” in diplomatic ties with Washington. The group hailed the prisoner swap as an example of resolving disputes through dialogue and extended special gratitude to Qatar for its role in brokering the exchange.
“The Islamic Emirate views positively those actions of the United States that contribute to the normalization and expansion of relations between the two countries,” the Taliban government stated.
The exchange signals a cautious diplomatic opening, though tensions remain high between the Taliban and the US, especially regarding human rights concerns and counterterrorism measures in Afghanistan.
