Taliban releases US citizen Amir Amiri after Qatari mediation

Amiri is the 5th US national held by the Taliban authorities successful Afghanistan to beryllium freed this year.

An American national who had been detained successful Afghanistan since December has been released done Qatari mediation.

The merchandise of Amir Amiri, who was connected his mode backmost to the United States connected Sunday, is the 5th US national to beryllium freed by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, who returned to powerfulness successful August 2021 aft the withdrawal of US-led forces from the state aft 20 years of concern and war.

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Negotiations lasted respective months aft Qatari officials secured an archetypal gathering betwixt Amiri and the US peculiar envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, sources with cognition of the substance told Al Jazeera. The breakthrough that secured his merchandise 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 support American nationals from wrongful detention abroad.

“While this marks an important measurement forward, further Americans stay unjustly detained successful Afghanistan,” helium said. “President [Donald] Trump volition not remainder until each our captive citizens are backmost home.”

Rubio did not supply details arsenic to wherefore oregon wherever Amiri was detained.

The different 4 American citizens released this twelvemonth are Ryan Corbett, William McKenty, George Glezmann and Faye Hall.

Qatar, a subordinate of the Gulf Cooperation Council, besides helped successful the merchandise of a British couple connected September 19. They were imprisoned for months.

Qatar has been assisting the Trump medication successful mediating the merchandise of captives since Taliban forces seized Kabul connected August 15, 2021, aft the US-backed authorities collapsed and its leaders fled into exile. 

While nary state successful the satellite formally recognises the Taliban-led authorities successful Afghanistan, Doha has maintained diplomatic channels with the Taliban to facilitate dialog and supply an avenue for delicate negotiations.