
Faith Nyasuguta
The Afghan Taliban government has confirmed the release of two American prisoners in exchange for an Afghan fighter held in the United States for nearly two decades. This rare prisoner swap was facilitated by Qatar, marking a significant development in relations between the two nations.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Taliban foreign ministry announced, “An Afghan fighter, Khan Mohammad, imprisoned in America, has been released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country.” Mohammad had been serving a life sentence in California after being arrested almost 20 years ago in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province.
Details of The Swap
The names of the two American prisoners were not officially disclosed by the Taliban. However, media reports have identified them as William McKenty and Ryan Corbett, with Corbett reportedly in Taliban custody since 2022. Discussions about the swap had been ongoing since last year, but the deal was finalized and announced shortly after Donald Trump was inaugurated as the new US president.

The Taliban government expressed gratitude to Qatar for mediating the negotiations. “The exchange is a good example of resolving issues through dialogue,” the ministry stated. They also highlighted their willingness to foster improved relations with the United States, stating, “The Islamic Emirate views positively those actions of the United States that contribute to the normalisation and expansion of relations between the two countries.”
US-Taliban Relations
The prisoner exchange comes amid strained ties between the US and the Taliban following the chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021. This withdrawal followed a deal brokered in 2020 under Trump’s administration, which ended two decades of US and NATO involvement in Afghanistan.
Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have repeatedly called for positive relations with all nations, including the United States. However, no country has officially recognized the Taliban government due to ongoing concerns, particularly over the restriction of women’s rights in Afghanistan.
Unanswered Questions

While the exchange has been completed, several details remain unclear. The number of Afghan citizens still in US custody is undisclosed. Additionally, at least one Afghan prisoner, Muhammad Rahim, remains detained at Guantanamo Bay. Rahim’s family called for his release in late 2023, but no action has been taken yet.
This swap is not the first instance of prisoner releases involving the Taliban and the US. In February last year, two former Guantanamo Bay detainees were repatriated to Afghanistan, more than two decades after their initial arrests.
A Sign of Thawing Relations?
The Taliban have hailed the recent exchange as a step toward better relations with the US. However, experts caution that significant challenges remain, especially in light of human rights issues and the lack of formal recognition of the Taliban government by the international community.
As both sides navigate these complexities, the prisoner swap represents a symbolic, albeit limited, gesture of cooperation that could pave the way for future dialogue.
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