Amir Amiri, an American citizen detained 9 months in the past in Afghanistan, was launched Sunday and is on his approach again to america, Secretary of State Marco Rubio introduced.
“At the moment we welcome dwelling Amir Amiry, an American who was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan,” wrote Rubio in a social media publish. “I wish to thank Qatar for serving to safe his freedom.”
A supply with information of the discharge beforehand instructed CBS Information that Qatari diplomats had coordinated with the workplace of the U.S. Particular Envoy for Hostage Affairs to facilitate it. After the Taliban took management of Afghanistan in 2021, Qatar signed an accord to symbolize U.S. pursuits within the nation. Earlier than Amiri, it had helped safe the discharge of 4 different Americans from Afghanistan earlier this yr.
Amiri was detained in December 2024. Qatar started negotiating for his launch in March, at first arranging a gathering between Amiri and the U.S. Particular Envoy Adam Boehler throughout his go to to Afghanistan, based on the supply with information of his launch. Qatari diplomats monitored Amiri’s well being and maintained shut communication with U.S. officers all through his detention, the supply instructed CBS Information.
Qatar International Ministry
Negotiations endured for a number of months till Qatar reached a breakthrough this weekend, which resulted in Amiri’s launch, the supply stated.
Two Americans had been freed in a prisoner swap between the U.S. and the Taliban in January, certainly one of whom, Ryan Corbett, had been kidnapped in 2022 whereas on a piece journey. The Taliban agreed to launch them from Afghanistan in trade for Khan Mohammed, a Taliban determine who had been imprisoned for all times in California on drug trafficking and terrorism expenses, officers instructed the Related Press on the time.
One other two People had been launched from Afghanistan in March. Faye Corridor, who had been detained earlier within the yr on expenses of utilizing an unauthorized drone, was arrested with a British couple who remained in Taliban custody, sources instructed CBS Information after Corridor’s launch. The British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, had been freed earlier this month. Individually, American George Glezmann was additionally freed in March after being detained throughout a vacationer go to to Afghanistan in 2022, in a transfer that the previous U.S. envoy to Afghanistan known as “a goodwill gesture” to President Trump by the Taliban.
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