KABUL — The Taliban have released an American citizen, Amir Amiri, following the arrival of U.S. special envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, in Kabul on September 28.
According to sources, Amiri had been detained in Afghanistan since December 2024. His release was mediated by Qatar, and by Sunday evening, he was en route to Doha.
During his visit, Boehler met with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
In a statement, Muttaqi said that the Taliban do not view issues concerning citizens of the two countries through a “political lens,” arguing this approach makes diplomacy possible. He described Amiri’s release as a “positive step” in U.S.–Taliban relations and thanked Qatar for its mediation role.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also praised the release, thanking Qatar and reiterating the U.S. commitment to bringing detained Americans home. President Trump “will not rest until all our captive citizens are back home,” Rubio wrote on X.
It remains uncertain how many U.S. citizens remain detained by the Taliban. One name often cited is Mahmood Habibi, a dual-national contractor who disappeared in 2022. His family continues to press for his release.
This year alone, Boehler has made multiple trips to Kabul as part of U.S. efforts to negotiate the release of American detainees. Previous releases include George Glezmann, who was released earlier in March after being held for over two years.
Rights groups and international observers continue to call for transparency about other detainees, argue that detainee rights must be protected under international law, and urge the Taliban to allow independent monitoring of prisoners.
