Islamic Emirate Confirms Prisoner Exchange with the US

The Islamic Emirate has confirmed the exchange of an Afghan prisoner for two American detainees.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Afghan prisoner released by the US, identified as Khan Mohammad, had been held in custody in California.

While the Islamic Emirate has not disclosed the identities of the released American citizens, US media reports suggest they are Ryan Corbett and William McKinty. The exchange took place in the final hours of Joe Biden’s presidency.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the exchange was facilitated by Qatar, and the Islamic Emirate views any US initiatives aimed at normalizing relations positively.

Zia Ahmad Takal, head of public relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “The Islamic Emirate welcomes steps by the United States that help normalize and expand relations between the two countries.”

US media reported that Ryan Corbett’s family has expressed gratitude to Qatar for its efforts in securing his release.

CNN said: “The Taliban agreed to swap two Americans being held in Afghanistan for one Taliban member serving a life sentence in a US prison. But there was an unexpected delay (at least in part due to bad weather in Washington and Kabul) and Donald Trump was officially back in the White House when Americans Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were handed over and on their way home early Tuesday, exchanged for Afghan Taliban member Khan Mohammed who was convicted in 2008 on narco-terrorism charges.”

Zalmai Afghan Yar, a military analyst, said: “The prisoner exchange, based on diplomatic dialogues, is considered a positive step. Solutions can be found for all conflicts through negotiations. We hope that continued talks will help Afghanistan emerge from isolation.”

Previously, the US State Department identified three American citizens—Ryan Corbett, George Gelsman, and Mahmood Habibi—in the custody of the Islamic Emirate, citing the issue as a major obstacle to US engagement with Afghanistan’s interim government.

Sayed Qaribullah Sadat, a political analyst, expressed hope that, “Through mutual understanding, the issue of prisoners and other existing challenges between Afghanistan and the U.S. can be resolved. This process could help eliminate misunderstandings.”

According to the US Department of Justice, Khan Mohammad was arrested in Nangarhar province on October 29, 2006, on drug-related charges and was transferred to the US in November 2007. In 2008, he was sentenced to two life terms.