Two Americans, Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, held by the Taliban in Afghanistan, were freed in a prisoner swap involving Khan Mohammad, an Afghan fighter serving a life sentence in the US.

Axar.az, citing DW, reports that Mohammad, described by the US Justice Department as a "violent jihadist and narcotics trafficker," was extradited nearly two decades ago for drug trafficking and attempting to kill US soldiers.

Corbett had been held since 2022 after being abducted on a business trip. His family expressed immense gratitude, acknowledging the efforts of both the Biden and Trump administrations and Qatar's significant role in the negotiations.

Despite this exchange, two Americans, George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi, remain in Taliban custody, with ongoing negotiations involving Muhammad Rahim, a Guantanamo Bay detainee.

This Qatar-brokered deal, finalized during Biden's administration, highlights rare US-Taliban cooperation amid strained relations. The Taliban commended the negotiation process, viewing it as a positive step towards normalizing ties, though the group remains unrecognized internationally due to human rights concerns, particularly its treatment of women.