A US citizen held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nine months has been released following negotiations led by Qatari mediators, officials say.
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 efforts are ongoing to secure their release.
Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed that it facilitated Mr Amiry's release, and he was expected to travel to Doha before returning to the US.
Negotiations for Mr Amiry's release reportedly began in March 2025, initiated by a meeting between him and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler.
A breakthrough in negotiations was achieved over the weekend, leading to Mr Amiry's release.
This release follows two other Americans freed in a prisoner swap with the Taliban in January. One detainee, Ryan Corbett, had been abducted while on a work trip in 2022.
The US released Khan Mohammad, a Taliban associate, in exchange for Corbett, as reported by the Associated Press.
Two other Americans, including George Glezmann, were released later in March 2025. Glezmann was detained during a tourist visit to Afghanistan in 2022.
Additionally, a British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, were released earlier this month through Qatari mediation; they had lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades.
