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

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

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

A statement from the Taliban government in Kabul announced the agreement, which was concluded shortly before President Joe Biden ends his term.

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

The deal — reportedly the culmination of two years of negotiations — was made shortly before Joe Biden handed over power to Donald Trump on Monday.

“An Afghan fighter Khan Mohammed imprisoned in America was released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country,” the Taliban’s Ministry of Affairs 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 full of 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.

Mr Corbett had lived in Afghanistan for several years with his family and was arrested by the Taliban more than two years ago when he returned on a business trip.

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

Khan Mohammad was a member of the Taliban captured in Afghanistan during the US military engagement. It was jailed 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 solving problems through dialogue.”

“The Islamic Emirate looks positively at the actions of the United States of America that help the normalization and development of relations between the two countries,” he said.

Since the Taliban took power in 2021, they have not been formally recognized by any government.

While the move is unlikely to change relations between Kabul and Washington, further negotiations may follow – two other Americans are still in Afghanistanit is believed that George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi.

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

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

The US The Department of Defense report in 2022 estimated that military equipment worth $7 billion had been left behind. in Afghanistan after American forces withdrew.