Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
KABUL – Afghanistan government on Saturday acknowledged ongoing negotiations with the United States over a prisoner exchange but clarified that no agreement has been reached, local media reported.
Hamdullah Fitrat, the Taliban’s deputy spokesperson, confirmed the discussions during an interview with Tolo News, emphasizing that talks remain “underway.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Biden administration has been engaged in secret negotiations with the Taliban since July. The talks aim to secure the release of Americans held in Afghanistan in exchange for at least one detainee from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay.
The discussions gained momentum in November when the US reportedly proposed the release of Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani, a former aide to Osama bin Laden, in exchange for three Americans: George Glezmann, Ryan Corbett, and Mahmoud Habibi, who were abducted in 2022.
However, the Taliban countered with an offer demanding the release of Rahim and two additional Guantanamo detainees in exchange for Glezmann and Corbett. The group denied holding Habibi in custody.
While these negotiations continue, the absence of a deal underscores the complex dynamics between the two parties as they navigate a sensitive issue with significant political and humanitarian implications.
