The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Sunday that American citizen Aamir Amiri has been released from prison, a development conveyed by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to a visiting United States delegation in Kabul.
In a statement, the ministry said this marked the second visit of the U.S. team to Afghanistan, where matters related to detainees were high on the agenda. Adam Boehler, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, welcomed the decision, describing it as “a pleasant moment” and a positive gesture in ongoing engagements between the two sides.
Muttaqi stressed that the Afghan government does not view such cases through a political prism, underlining that diplomacy offers pathways to resolve sensitive issues. He termed the release a constructive step and extended gratitude to Qatar for facilitating the process.
The ministry noted that Boehler also characterized previous rounds of dialogue between Kabul and Washington as “constructive” and voiced hope that discussions on outstanding matters would continue.
During an earlier meeting, the U.S. delegation had pressed for the release of American detainees, while Taliban leaders called for the freedom of Afghan national Mohammad Rahim, who is believed to be held at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. The U.S. side reportedly agreed in principle to his transfer to Qatar, though the Afghan ministry made no mention of whether his release would proceed.
Taliban officials recalled that earlier this month, an elderly British couple, detained in Afghanistan for nearly eight months, had also been freed on health grounds. The officials declined to specify why 80-year-old Peter Reynolds and his 76-year-old wife Barbara were taken into custody in February while attempting to return home.
Speaking at Kabul Airport after their release, Barbara, wearing a red scarf and standing beside her husband, said they had been treated well during detention and were eager to reunite with their children.
