A U.S. citizen who had been imprisoned since last year in Afghanistan has been released following negotiations between Washington and Kabul, marking the fifth such case this year under the new Trump administration. The freed prisoner, identified as Amir Amiri, had been held since December 2024 and was released after direct talks involving U.S. envoy Adam Boehler.
Amiri’s case drew limited public attention compared to earlier detentions, but U.S. officials privately acknowledged his imprisonment as part of a broader challenge in dealing with the Taliban-led government that seized power after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. His release adds to a growing list of Americans who have been freed from Afghan custody this year, including Ryan Corbett, William McKenty, George Glezmann, and Faye Hall.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Amiri’s release on Saturday, expressing gratitude to Qatar for facilitating dialogue and emphasizing that Washington continues to seek the release of other Americans. Rubio highlighted the case of Mahmood Habibi, the former head of Afghanistan’s civil aviation authority, who is believed to have been detained since 2022. Kabul continues to deny holding Habibi, a claim met with skepticism by U.S. officials. Rubio also stated that at least two other Americans remain in custody.
The Taliban government has portrayed the release as a sign of constructive engagement with Washington. Yet tensions remain high. Just last week, President Donald Trump threatened Afghanistan with “bad things” if the U.S. military was not granted renewed access to Bagram Airbase, once the centerpiece of America’s war in the country. Kabul responded sharply, insisting that not even a “square meter” of Afghan territory would be ceded to foreign powers.
Trump has suggested that the Taliban “need things from us,” implying that leverage could force concessions, however the U.S. is unlikely to lift sanctions on Afghanistan or recognize the government, which is Kabul's ultimate objectives.