Trump Releases 'One Taliban, Two Americans' Inauguration...Qatar mediation

In line with the launch of U.S. President Donald Trump's second administration, one Afghan imprisoned in the U.S. and two Americans imprisoned in Afghanistan have been released.

On Monday local time, the Afghan foreign ministry, which is effectively ruled by the Taliban, said in a statement that Afghan fighter Khan Mohammad, who has been imprisoned in the U.S., and U.S. citizens in Afghanistan have been released back by Qatar's mediation, CNN reported.

CNN said the Americans released were "Ryan Corbett" and "William McEntee" and that little was known about them.

The freed Mohammad was reportedly serving a life sentence in the U.S. after being captured in Afghanistan in 2008 on drug and terrorism charges.

The Taliban have regained power since the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2021, but have not received formal government recognition from the international community as they have cracked down on human rights, saying they enforce Islamic law.