Taliban releases US citizen Amir Amiri after Qatari mediation | News

Amiri is the fifth US citizen held by the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan to be freed this 12 months.

An American citizen who had been detained in Afghanistan since December has been launched by means of Qatari mediation.

The discharge of Amir Amiri, who was on his manner again to america on Sunday, is the fifth US citizen to be freed by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, who returned to energy in August 2021 after the withdrawal of US-led forces from the nation after 20 years of occupation and warfare.

Negotiations lasted a number of months after Qatari officers secured an preliminary assembly between Amiri and the US particular envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, sources with information of the matter informed Al Jazeera. The breakthrough that secured his launch was reached this weekend, they mentioned.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed Amiri’s launch, saying it marked the US authorities’s willpower to guard American nationals from wrongful detention overseas.

“Whereas this marks an essential step ahead, extra Individuals stay unjustly detained in Afghanistan,” he mentioned. “President [Donald] Trump is not going to relaxation till all our captive residents are again residence.”

Rubio didn’t present particulars as to why or the place Amiri was detained.

The opposite 4 Americans launched this 12 months are Ryan Corbett, William McKenty, George Glezmann and Faye Corridor.

Qatar, a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, additionally helped in the release of a British couple on September 19. They had been imprisoned for months.

Qatar has been aiding the Trump administration in mediating the discharge of captives since Taliban forces seized Kabul on August 15, 2021, after the US-backed authorities collapsed and its leaders fled into exile.

Whereas no nation on this planet formally recognises the Taliban-led authorities in Afghanistan, Doha has maintained diplomatic channels with the Taliban to facilitate dialogue and supply an avenue for delicate negotiations.

Qatar’s international minister mentioned Amiri was on his option to Doha and would then proceed his journey to the US.

Minister of State on the Ministry of Overseas Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, mentioned in a press release on X that his launch “serves as a major step towards encouraging direct dialogue and enhancing communication channels between events.”

Afghan Overseas Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi mentioned the step taken by his authorities was optimistic and thanked Qatar for its efficient function in facilitating the discharge.