Amir Amiry, a US citizen held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nine months, has been released following negotiations led by Qatari mediators, officials report.
The man, identified as Amir Amiry, is the fifth American to be freed from detention in Afghanistan this year. He was on his way back to the US on Sunday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Qatar for its tireless diplomatic efforts, which he said were crucial in securing Mr. Amiry's release.
The reason for Mr. Amiry's detention remains unclear. Rubio stated that he had been wrongfully detained.
The secretary of state added that more US citizens remain unjustly detained in Afghanistan and that the Trump administration was working on securing their release.
Qatar's foreign ministry stated it had facilitated the release of Mr. Amiry and that he was en route to Doha before traveling to the US.
Negotiations for Mr. Amiry's release began in March, with Qatar initially arranging a meeting between him and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler. A breakthrough in negotiations was achieved this weekend, leading to Mr. Amiry's release.
This release follows the freedom of two American citizens earlier this year in a prisoner swap. One of the detainees, Ryan Corbett, was abducted in 2022. The US released a Taliban figure imprisoned for life in exchange.
Two other Americans were released later in March, including George Glezmann, detained during a tourist visit in 2022. A British couple who had lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades was also released earlier this month through Qatari mediation.
