Close Menu
WTX News
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Robert Jenrick announces plans to abolish Sentencing Council amid ‘two-tier justice’ row
    • TV show sued for portraying Paddington Bear as a cocaine sniffing podcast host
    • Charlie Dean takes England vice-captaincy in her stride
    • Yohannes, Caldentey: Who is the MVP on all 18 UWCL teams
    • Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann pretended to be two other missing girls court hears
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    WTX News
    • Live News
      • US News
      • EU News
      • UK News
      • Politics
      • COVID-19
      • Business
      • Tech zone
    • World news
      • Middle East News
        • UAE News
        • Palestine News
      • Europe
        • Italian News
        • Spanish News
      • Africa news
      • South America
      • North America
      • Asia
    • News Briefings
      • UK News Briefing
      • World News Briefing
      • Live Business News
    • Sports
      • Football News
      • Tennis
      • Women’s Football
    • MY World
      • Climate Change
      • In Review
      • Expose
      • Special Reports
        • Conscience Convoy
        • Rohingya Report
    • Entertainment
      • Insta Talk
      • Royal Family
      • Gaming News
      • TV Shows
      • Streaming
    • Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • Fashion
      • Cooking recipes
      • Luxury
      • Money Saving Expert
    • Travel
      • Culture
      • Holidays
    • Sign Up
      • Log In
    WTX News
    • Live News
    • World news
    • News Briefings
    • Sports
    • MY World
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Sign Up
    Home - Afghanistan - Taliban release 2 Americans in Biden presidency’s last hours
    Afghanistan

    Taliban release 2 Americans in Biden presidency’s last hours

    By Olga Winter - EU Newsdesk2 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Telegram WhatsApp
    Taliban release 2 Americans in Biden presidency’s last hours

     

    Two Americans held in Afghanistan were freed in return for a Taliban fighter serving a life sentence in the US, authorities in Kabul said on Tuesday.

    “An Afghan fighter Khan Mohammad imprisoned in America has been released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry said in a statement

    Mohammad was extradited to the US nearly two decades ago and imprisoned in California on drug trafficking charges.

    The US Justice Department at the time called Mohammed “a violent jihadist and narcotics trafficker” who “sought to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan using rockets.”

    He was released in exchange for US citizens Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, US media reports said.

    Family expresses gratitude for release

    Corbett had been held by the Taliban since 2022 after being abducted during a business trip.

    “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,” Corbett’s family said in a statement.

    The family thanked the administrations of both former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump for their efforts as well as Qatar for its pivotal role in the negotiations.

    What about the US citizens still held by the Taliban?

    The release of Corbett and McKenty means there are now two Americans — George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi — still in Taliban custody. 

    The Biden administration had been trying to work out a deal to free them in exchange for Muhammad Rahim, one of the remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

    The prisoner swap, finalized during the final hours of the Biden administration, comes at a time of ongoing tensions in US-Taliban relations.

    The Qatar-brokered deal marks a rare instance of cooperation between the two countries. 

    The Taliban praised the “long and fruitful negotiations” with the US.

    “The Islamic Emirate looks positively at the actions of the United States of America that help the normalization and development of relations between the two countries,” it said.

    International recognition of Afghanistan’s Taliban government remains elusive due to human rights concerns, particularly restrictions on women. 

    Afghanistan: Women become ‘invisible’ under Taliban

    ss/nm (AP, AFP, Reuters)

    Taliban release 2 Americans in Biden presidency’s last hours – DW – 01/21/2025

    News Just in

    Japan’s stocks surge after Takaichi wins party vote

    Olga Winter - EU Newsdesk

    Cliff Notes – Takaichi set to become Japan’s first female Prime Minister Japanese stocks, particularly the Nikkei 225 Index, surged by 4.6%, marking a historic

    Read More »

    DW News featured Taliban Trending Trending Politics
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Telegram WhatsApp
    Previous ArticleUS withdrawal from Paris Agreement ‘devastating’
    Next Article Israel launches military operation in West Bank city – Ceasefire meant nothing
    Olga Winter - EU Newsdesk
    • Facebook
    • X (Twitter)

    Olga Winter is a specialist editor writing about current affairs on the EU news desk for WTX News. Based in Brussels she ideally suited to the address the domestic and global affairs of the European continent, with assignments that include expose and In Review features for specialist reports..

    Related Posts

    Robert Jenrick announces plans to abolish Sentencing Council amid ‘two-tier justice’ row
    Manchester news

    Robert Jenrick announces plans to abolish Sentencing Council amid ‘two-tier justice’ row

    Streets of Britain have turned into ‘theatres of intimidation’ Kemi Badenoch says
    London

    Streets of Britain have turned into ‘theatres of intimidation’ Kemi Badenoch says

    Donald Trump authorises deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago
    UK News

    Donald Trump authorises deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago

    At least five killed in Ukraine after Russian missile and drone attack as Poland forced to scramble jets
    Politics

    At least five killed in Ukraine after Russian missile and drone attack as Poland forced to scramble jets

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Advertisment
    News Headlines
    Robert Jenrick announces plans to abolish Sentencing Council amid ‘two-tier justice’ row

    Robert Jenrick announces plans to abolish Sentencing Council amid ‘two-tier justice’ row

    Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann pretended to be two other missing girls court hears

    Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann pretended to be two other missing girls court hears

    Save 70% on VIP subscription
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    Advert by Sponsors
    More from WTX News
    The latest gaming news - with game reviews and tips and tricks. updated 24 hours a day.
    The latest gaming news
    Hot off the press!
    • Robert Jenrick announces plans to abolish Sentencing Council amid ‘two-tier justice’ row October 7, 2025
    • TV show sued for portraying Paddington Bear as a cocaine sniffing podcast host October 6, 2025
    • Charlie Dean takes England vice-captaincy in her stride October 6, 2025
    • Yohannes, Caldentey: Who is the MVP on all 18 UWCL teams October 6, 2025
    • Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann pretended to be two other missing girls court hears October 6, 2025
    WTX News latest breaking news sports and travel
    Latest News and analysis - Deciphering through the BS with exclusive News Briefings
    Facebook X (Twitter) TikTok Instagram

    News

    • World News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • EU News
    • Business
    • Opinions
    • News Briefing
    • Live News

    Company

    • About WTX News
    • Register
    • Advertising
    • Work with us
    • Contact
    • Community
    • GDPR Policy
    • Privacy

    Services

    • Fitness for free
    • Insta Talk
    • How to guides
    • Climate Change
    • In Review
    • Expose
    • NEWS SUMMARY
    • Money Saving Expert

    News delivered to your inbox

    Copyright WTX News 2025

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.