Prisoner swap with US announced by Afghan Taliban in deal brokered by Qatar

US citizen Ryan Corbett among those freed in return for Afghan fighter Khan Mohammad

Khan Mohammad who was imprisoned in the US, is greeted by the Taliban leaders and supporters as he arrives in Jalalabad, Afghanistan on Tuesday. EPA

Afghanistan has released an unspecified number of American citizens from prison in return for an Afghan fighter held in the US, in a deal brokered by Qatar, the Taliban government said on Tuesday.

Talks on the prisoner exchange were confirmed last year but the swap was announced after former US president Joe Biden handed the reins of power to Donald Trump on Monday.

“An agreement was reached facilitating the release of an Afghan mujahid, Khan Mohammad, from a US prison in exchange for the release of American nationals,” Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website, describing the man released as a fighter.

The ministry said Mr Mohammad had been serving a life sentence in California after being arrested almost two decades ago in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar.

It did not say how many US prisoners were freed, but last year government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said two Americans were being held, while US media have reported several others are also in custody.

The family of US citizen Ryan Corbett, who was detained by the Taliban in 2022, confirmed he was one of those released. “Today, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan's life and bringing him back home after what has been the most challenging and uncertain 894 days of our lives,” the family said on their website.

They thanked the Biden and Trump administrations, as well as mediators Qatar.

A former US official confirmed William McKenty was the second American released.

Departing envoy for hostage affairs Roger Carstens was in Doha for the exchange, which had originally been planned for the Sunday before the inauguration.

The New York Times has reported that two other US citizens also remain in detention in Afghanistan – former airline mechanic George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi.

After Mr Trump's election win in November, the Taliban government said it was hoping for a “new chapter” in ties with the US. On Tuesday, they called the prisoner exchange “a good example of resolving issues through dialogue” and expressed gratitude to Qatar for its “effective role”.

Afghanistan “views positively steps taken by the United States that aid normalisation and expansion of relations between the two countries”, a statement read.

Dozens of foreigners have been detained by the Taliban authorities since the group's return to power in Afghanistan. It is unclear how many Afghan citizens are in US custody.

At least one Afghan prisoner, Muhammad Rahim, remains in detention at the American Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.