The US Department of State has entered into discussions with leaders of the Taliban concerning the release of American citizens who are currently detained in Afghanistan. These discussions were officially confirmed during a press conference held in Washington.
According to Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US Department of State, Thomas West, the US special representative for Afghanistan, engaged in a conversation with a Taliban representative this week regarding the detained Americans.
Miller stressed the significance of ensuring the safety of American citizens and highlighted that the issue of their freedom in Afghanistan has consistently been a central focus in these negotiations.
These discussions have involved direct talks with Taliban leaders, where strong advocacy for the release of the detained individuals was made.
Miller stated, “I want to emphasize that the security of American citizens is our top priority. This has been a recurring topic in our conversations, and we have raised it with Taliban leaders and insisted on it.”
However, specific details about the detained Americans, including their identities and the reasons for their arrest, were not disclosed by Miller. Washington has raised concerns about Americans held in Afghan prisons in recent months, but detailed information regarding their numbers and identities has not been provided.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban government, acknowledged the presence of Americans in their custody but did not offer further information, citing ongoing security and legal considerations related to the case.
Before this development, Ms. Ryan Corbett expressed deep concern for her husband’s health and safety following his 16-month detention in a Taliban intelligence prison.
The Taliban have accused Mr. Corbett of “anti-government activities,” but his wife disputes these allegations.
Initially, Ryan Corbett’s wife chose to maintain silence about her husband’s arrest, hoping it would lead to his safe release by the Taliban. This silence was upheld for several months.
Ryan Corbett, an American entrepreneur, had returned to Afghanistan a few months after the fall of Kabul to resume his business activities. Despite entering the country with a visa and receiving initial approval from the Taliban for his business endeavors, he was arrested in northern Afghanistan in August 2022, along with three colleagues of German and Afghan nationality.
