Amir Amiry, an American citizen, has been successfully released from Taliban custody in Afghanistan after being held for nine months. The release follows extensive negotiations spearheaded by Qatari mediators. This marks the fifth American citizen to be freed from detention in Afghanistan this year. Mr. Amiry is currently on his way back to the United States.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his gratitude to Qatar for their unwavering diplomatic support, which proved instrumental in securing Mr. Amiry’s freedom. The specific reasons for Mr. Amiry’s detention were not immediately clear, but Secretary Rubio described him as “wrongfully detained.” He also indicated that several other U.S. citizens remain unjustly held in Afghanistan, and the administration is actively working towards their release.
Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed its role in facilitating Mr. Amiry’s release, stating that he was en route to Doha before his onward journey to the U.S. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Qatar initiated negotiations in March, beginning with arranging a meeting between Mr. Amiry and U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler. A significant breakthrough in these talks reportedly occurred over the weekend, leading to Mr. Amiry’s eventual release.
This development follows earlier releases of American citizens. In January, two Americans were freed in a prisoner exchange with the Taliban, including Ryan Corbett, who was abducted in 2022. The U.S. released Khan Mohammad, a Taliban figure imprisoned in California on drug trafficking and terrorism charges, in that exchange. Additionally, two more Americans were released in March, including George Glezmann, detained during a tourist visit in 2022. More recently, a British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who had lived in Afghanistan for two decades, were also released through Qatari mediation.