KBUL -UNS: Afghan Taliban has been released US citizen Amir Amiri who had been detained in Afghanistan since December.
The release of Amir Amiri, who was on his way back to the United States on Sunday, is the fifth US citizen to be freed by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers through Qatar mediation.Tslibsn returned to power in August 2021 after the withdrawal of US-led forces from the country after 20 years of occupation and war.
According to AlJazeera tv negotiations lasted several months after Qatari officials secured an initial meeting between Amiri and the US special envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, sources with knowledge of the matter told Al Jazeera. The breakthrough that secured his release was reached this weekend, they said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed Amiri’s release, saying it marked the US government’s determination to protect American nationals from wrongful detention abroad.
“While this marks an important step forward, additional Americans remain unjustly detained in Afghanistan,” he said. “President [Donald] Trump will not rest until all our captive citizens are back home.”
The other four American citizens released this year are Ryan Corbett, William McKenty, George Glezmann and Faye Hall.
