Qatar facilitates detainee swap between the US and Afghanistan
Published: 22 January 2025
Two Americans held in Afghanistan released in exchange for an Afghan detained in US
Qatar News Agency
Doha
Qatar announced the successful facilitation of a detainee swap between the United States of America and Afghanistan.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H E Dr. Mohammed bin Ab-dulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, stated that the good offices of the State of Qatar have resulted in the release of two American citizens who had been detained in Afghanistan, in exchange for the release of an Afghan citizen detained in the United States of America, stressing that all of them arrived in Doha, and the necessary arrangements were made in preparation for their return to their respective countries.
The two Americans freed in the swap are Ryan Corbett and William McKenty. The Afghan, a Taliban figure, was impris-oned for life in California on drug trafficking and terrorism charges.
The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul said the two U.S. citizens had been exchanged for Khan Mohammed, who was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment in 2008.
Corbett, who had lived in Afghanistan with his family at the time of the 2021 collapse of the U.S.-backed government, was detained by the Taliban in August 2022 while on 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,” the family’s statement said.
H E Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi expressed Qatar’s gratitude to both and the Afghan Caretaker Government and the US Government for their positive response to Qatar’s efforts and their cooperation in facilitating the detainee swap process.
His Excellency expressed the State of Qatar’s hope that this agreement would pave the way for achieving further un-derstandings as a means to resolve disputes through peaceful means.
His Excellency emphasized that the success of this Detainee swap underscores, once again, the position of the State of Qatar as a reliable partner at the regional and international levels, and reflects, as well, Qatar’s effective role in the making of peace and enhancing security and stability in the region and the world.
