Taliban releases detained American citizen Amir Amiry

U.S. citizen Amir Amiry returned to the United States on Sunday after the Taliban terror group released him, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. Amiry had been wrongfully detained in Afghanistan, Rubio said, though he did not elaborate on Amiry’s background or how he came to be held by the Taliban. The terror group detained Amiry for nine months, according to the BBC.

Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler, as well as Qatari mediators, hashed out the release in meetings with the Taliban. The terror group did not consider political standpoints when addressing issues of foreign citizens, its foreign ministry said, according to Pajhwok Afghan News.

The release reflected the Trump administration’s commitment to protect Americans from wrongful captivity, Rubio said. However, the United States was still working to free additional citizens held by the Taliban, he said. He also thanked Qatar for helping negotiate Amiry’s release.

What did Qatar say about its involvement? Amiry traveled back to the United States through Qatar on Sunday, the country’s foreign ministry said on Sunday. The negotiations were a step toward direct dialogue between the United States and the Taliban, it added. Qatar appreciated both sides’ willingness to cooperate, the ministry said.

Dig deeper: Listen to Kent Covington’s explanation of tense U.S.-Taliban negotiations over Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base.