Taliban releases American detained in Afghanistan
An American lady who has been held by the Taliban in Afghanistan has been freed, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad stated Saturday.
“American citizen Faye Corridor, simply launched by the Taliban, is now within the care of our associates, the Qataris in Kabul, and can quickly be on her means residence,” Khalilzad stated in a publish on X.
His publish featured a photograph of Corridor smiling and sitting between two males. It was not clear who the 2 males are.
A Taliban spokesperson confirmed to NBC Information {that a} feminine U.S. citizen was freed this week. The spokesperson stated she was handed over to a bunch who negotiated her launch with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Khalilzad didn’t give additional particulars on the circumstances of Corridor’s launch. The U.S. State Division didn’t instantly reply to NBC Information’ request for affirmation.
Corridor had been detained in Afghanistan since February on costs of utilizing a drone with out authorization, The Related Press reported.
President Donald Trump shared a video of Corridor on his Fact Social account Saturday afternoon.
Within the video, Corridor stated she voted for Trump twice and that she is so pleased he’s in workplace, calling this “the brand new period.”
“Thanks for bringing me residence, and I’ve by no means been so proud to be an American citizen,” Corridor stated within the video posted by Trump.
Earlier this month, American George Glezmann, who had been held by the Taliban for 2 years, was launched in a separate deal brokered by Qatar.
Officers from the Trump administration had been engaged with Taliban representatives to safe Glezmann’s launch.
“The Taliban authorities agreed to free him as a goodwill gesture to @POTUS and the American individuals,” Khalilzad stated of Glezmann in a March 20 publish on X.
He was not a part of a prisoner change.
Glezmann was within the nation in December 2022 on a five-day journey to “discover the cultural panorama and wealthy historical past of the nation,” based on a invoice filed within the Senate calling for his launch.
He was arrested by the Taliban and held with out cost. Taliban officers within the intelligence division instructed NBC Information they believed he was a spy.
Afghanistan’s Overseas Affairs Ministry additionally stated the transfer was a “goodwill gesture” in a publish on X on the time. In an announcement, the Taliban stated the assembly between the U.S. and Afghan officers was a “important step in rebuilding diplomatic engagement.”
The Taliban has been in command of Afghanistan, one of many poorest international locations on this planet, since August 2021, when it ousted U.S.-backed President Ashraf Ghani shortly after the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from the nation.
“Continued discussions may pave the best way for broader political and financial cooperation between the 2 international locations,” the Taliban assertion from earlier this month added.
The group has been desperate to re-engage with overseas entities.
Two different Individuals, Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, have been launched from Afghanistan this yr in a deal struck in the course of the remaining days of the Biden administration in change for a member of the Taliban being held in U.S. custody.
