Taliban and U.S. Conduct Prisoner Exchange Facilitated by Qatar

The exchange involved the release of an Afghan prisoner held in the U.S. and two American detainees in Afghanistan, highlighting potential shifts in diplomatic relations.

• The Taliban announced the release of Afghan prisoner Khan Mohammed, who had been serving a life sentence in California for narcoterrorism, in exchange for two American detainees, William McKenty and Ryan Corbett.
• The exchange was facilitated by Qatar following prolonged discussions, with both sides praising the mediation efforts as a model for resolving disputes through dialogue.
• Khan Mohammed was arrested nearly two decades ago in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, while Ryan Corbett had been detained by the Taliban since 2022.
• The Taliban expressed optimism for improved bilateral relations following Donald Trump's inauguration, while the U.S. has not yet commented on the exchange.
• This development comes as the Taliban seek greater international legitimacy, despite ongoing global criticism of their human rights record, particularly regarding women's rights.

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Le Parisien l'Opinion Ouest-France