With key details – including who will be exchanged, how many, when, and under what conditions – still unclear and unconfirmed by Washington, it remains to be seen whether the agreement will materialise.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan says it has reached an agreement in principle with the United States to carry out a prisoner swap, following a meeting in Kabul on September 13 between US officials and Taliban leaders, although Washington has not formally confirmed such a deal.

The meeting included Adam Boehler, the US presidential special envoy for hostage affairs, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister. Taliban spokesman Abdul Ghani Baradar’s office said afterward that Boehler “referred to the issue of detained citizens between Afghanistan and the United States – said both countries will exchange prisoners.”

However, US officials were more cautious. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Boehler had gone to Kabul “to explore what’s possible,” but that no definitive agreement has yet been confirmed. Rubio stressed that any exchange or trade of prisoners would only happen with the president’s approval.

In a public statement via the Taliban’s foreign ministry, discussions were said to focus on broader bilateral relations between the two governments, with particular emphasis on the issue of prisoners held by either side. The ministry said both parties agreed to continue further talks.

Domestic Challenges

Among the Americans believed to be detained in Afghanistan is Mahmood Habibi, aged 37, once head of Afghanistan’s Aviation Authority under the ousted US-backed government. He was arrested in August 2022. The Taliban has denied holding him, while his family alleges he was handed over to the Al-Qaeda terror network. Washington has placed a $5 million reward for information leading to his return.

Another American, airline mechanic George Glezmann, 66, was released in March during one of Boehler’s visits to Kabul. He had been detained for over two years.

Zalmay Khalilzad, former US special envoy to Afghanistan, joined Boehler on the September 13 Kabul meeting. His presence underscores the serious diplomatic weight the US appears to be bringing to the table. Khalilzad did not immediately comment publicly.

Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, dozens of foreign nationals have been detained by the country’s de facto authorities. The Taliban has faced international criticism over its human rights record, especially regarding women and minority rights, and is under pressure to improve ties with the global community.

For its part, the Taliban government continues to face severe domestic challenges – widespread poverty, recurring natural disasters, and internal unrest – which observers say could be pushing it toward seeking more stable diplomatic relations, not least with the United States.

The September meeting, and the claim of an imminent prisoner exchange, represents a potentially significant development in US-Taliban relations. But with key details – including who will be exchanged, how many, when, and under what conditions – still unclear and unconfirmed by Washington, it remains to be seen whether the agreement will materialise.