Washington/Kabul, September 29 (HS): Afghanistan has released another American citizen, marking the fifth U.S. national freed from Afghan custody this year. Amir Amiri, who was being held in an Afghan prison, was released following significant diplomatic efforts led by Qatar. Washington has expressed gratitude to Doha for its pivotal role in securing Amiri’s freedom.
According to reports by ABC News (U.S.) and The Express Tribune (Pakistan) on Sunday, Amiri’s release has been confirmed. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a statement that Amiri had been unjustly detained in Afghanistan and has now been returned to American custody.“
Today, under the leadership of President Donald Trump and his steadfast commitment to the American people, the United States welcomes back Amir Amiri, an American citizen who was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan,” Rubio said. He credited Qatar’s “strong partnership and tireless diplomatic efforts” for ensuring Amiri’s release, extending Washington’s “sincere gratitude” to Doha.
Rubio further noted that several more Americans remain unjustly imprisoned in Afghanistan, declaring that President Trump “will not rest until they are all safely returned home.”
A U.S. official revealed that Amiri had been granted a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV). His release was facilitated through joint diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Doha, and no concessions were granted to the Taliban in exchange.Amiri’s freedom and U.S. envoy Adam Boehler’s recent visit to the region came just a week after President Trump urged the Taliban to hand control of the Bagram Air Base back to American forces.
Before Amiri’s release, the Taliban government had freed an elderly British couple as part of ongoing negotiations.Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry handed Amiri over to U.S. Special Envoy Adam Boehler following discussions he held earlier this month with Taliban officials in Kabul.
The ministry stated on social media platform X that Kabul “does not view humanitarian issues through a political lens” and stressed that “diplomacy can provide pathways to resolving such matters.”
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
