American Detained In Afghanistan Is Freed After Being Held For Over A Year

American world Dennis Coyle has been released by nan Taliban aft being held successful Afghanistan for complete a year.

The merchandise came connected nan juncture of Eid al-Fitr, nan Muslim vacation that marks nan extremity of nan Islamic beatified period of Ramadan.

A connection from nan country’s overseas ministry said nan world interrogator had been released successful Kabul, nan Afghanistan’s capital, pursuing an entreaty from his family and aft Afghanistan's Supreme Court “considered his erstwhile imprisonment sufficient.”

Coyle was detained successful January 2025. Afghan authorities accused him of violating laws, but ne'er specified which ones.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed nan release.

“President Trump is committed to ending cruel detentions overseas – Dennis joins complete 100 Americans who person been freed successful nan past 15 months nether his 2nd word successful office,” Rubio said successful a statement.

“While this is simply a affirmative measurement by nan Taliban, much activity needs to beryllium done,” he added.

Earlier this month, nan U.S. State Department announced nan nickname of Afghanistan arsenic a sponsor of wrongful detention, accusing it of engaging successful “hostage diplomacy.”

Afghanistan joined Iran arsenic countries singled retired by nan United States for detaining Americans successful hopes of extracting argumentation concessions.

Afghanistan rejected U.S. allegations that it detains foreigners to get leverage complete different countries, saying Afghan authorities apprehension group for violating laws not to make a deal.

The State Department said earlier this period that nan Taliban was believed to clasp astatine slightest 4 U.S. nationals, including Coyle and Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan American businessman who worked arsenic a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications company.

The FBI and Habibi’s family person said they judge he was taken by Taliban forces successful 2022, but Afghan authorities person denied holding him.

Habibi’s brother, Ahmad Habibi, welcomed Coyle’s merchandise but said successful a connection that “we dream that our family will soon person nan aforesaid emotion of relief, erstwhile Mahmood is returned location to us.”

Rubio besides mentioned different American, Paul Overby, who is listed connected nan FBI's missing persons website arsenic having vanished successful eastbound Afghanistan's Khost state successful mid-2014 while conducting investigation for a book he was writing.

“We are still seeking nan contiguous return of Mahmood Habibi, Paul Overby, and each different unjustly detained Americans,” Rubio said. “The Taliban must extremity their believe of hostage diplomacy.”

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said his state “has not arrested citizens of immoderate state to execute governmental goals,” according to a connection released by nan ministry. Coyle, he said, had been released “after going done nan judicial process arsenic a consequence of violating nan laws.”

Both Rubio and Muttaqi thanked nan United Arab Emirates for helping mediate nan release, and mentioned Qatar had besides played a role. The overseas ministry said Muttaqi had met successful Kabul pinch erstwhile U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad up of nan release.

Afghanistan released Coyle “based connected humanitarian sympathy and goodwill, and believes that specified steps tin further fortify nan ambiance of spot betwixt countries,” nan Foreign Ministry said successful its statement, adding that Kabul “also expresses nan dream that some countries will find solutions to nan remaining problems done knowing and constructive speech successful nan future.”

The Taliban seized powerfulness successful Afghanistan successful 2021 successful nan aftermath of nan chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops, astir 20 years aft they were ousted from powerfulness successful a U.S.-led penetration pursuing nan 9/11 attacks successful nan United States.