US trades Taliban prisoner for two American detainees

Two Americans held by the Taliban authorities successful Afghanistan person been exchanged for an Afghan imprisoned successful the US connected cause trafficking and coercion charges.

The quality emerged aft Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty were freed. The Afghan, Khan Mohmmad, had been serving a beingness condemnation successful a national situation successful California connected cause trafficking and coercion charges.

A connection from the Taliban authorities successful Kabul announced the agreement, which was concluded conscionable earlier President Joe Biden ended his word successful office.

Mr Corbett's merchandise was confirmed by his family. US media, quoting authoritative sources, identified Mr McKenty arsenic the 2nd American.

The woody – reportedly the culmination of 2 years of negotiations - was done conscionable earlier Joe Biden handed implicit powerfulness to Donald Trump connected Monday.

"An Afghan combatant Khan Mohammed imprisoned successful America has been released successful speech for American citizens and returned to the country," the Taliban overseas ministry said successful a statement.

The household of Ryan Corbett thanked some administrations arsenic good arsenic Qatar for what they described arsenic its captious role.

"Today, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan's beingness and bringing him backmost location aft what has been the astir challenging and uncertain 894 days of our lives," the household said.

Mr Corbett had lived successful Afghanistan for galore years with his household and was detained by the Taliban much than 2 years agone erstwhile helium returned connected a concern trip.

There are fewer details astir Mr McKenty, whose household person asked for privacy.

Khan Mohammad was a subordinate of the Taliban taken captive successful Afghanistan during the US's subject engagement. He was jailed successful 2008. Joe Biden commuted his condemnation conscionable earlier helium near office.

The Taliban called the speech the effect of "long and fruitful negotiations" with the US and "a bully illustration of resolving issues done dialogue".

"The Islamic Emirate looks positively astatine the actions of the United States of America that assistance the normalisation and improvement of relations betwixt the 2 countries," it said.

Since the Taliban took powerfulness successful 2021, they person not been formally recognised by immoderate government.

While the determination is not apt to alteration relations betwixt Kabul and Washington, much negotiations whitethorn travel – two different Americans are inactive successful Afghanistan, believed to beryllium George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi.

The Taliban are besides seeking the merchandise of an Afghan who is 1 of the fewer remaining prisoners astatine the US's Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

At a rally successful Washington connected the eve of his inauguration, President Trump threatened to chopped humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan unless the Taliban returned the subject instrumentality seized aft the US pulled retired successful 2021.

A US Department of Defense study successful 2022 estimated that subject instrumentality worthy $7bn had been near behind successful Afghanistan aft US forces withdrew.