On Saturday, September 13, 2025, a rare and high-stakes diplomatic encounter unfolded in Kabul as Adam Boehler, Washington’s special envoy on hostages, arrived to discuss the possibility of a prisoner exchange between the United States and Afghanistan’s Taliban government. The meeting, which included Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and was attended by former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, marks a significant—if tentative—moment in the troubled relationship between the two nations.
According to Afghanistan’s deputy prime minister Abdul Ghani Baradar’s office, the talks led to an agreement that both countries would exchange prisoners. "Adam Boehler, referring to the issue of detained citizens between Afghanistan and the United States, said that both countries will exchange prisoners," Baradar’s office announced after the meeting, as reported by multiple outlets including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
However, the US government was quick to temper any expectations of an imminent breakthrough. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters as he departed Washington for the Middle East, stated, "Our special envoy for people unlawfully detained has been having conversations for a while. Obviously, it’ll be the president’s decision in terms of any trades or any exchanges, but we most certainly want any Americans or anyone who’s being unlawfully detained to be released. And so he went there to explore what that would look like." Rubio emphasized that Boehler’s visit was to "explore what’s possible," stopping short of confirming that any deal had been struck.
The uncertainty around the talks was further highlighted by the lack of details from both sides. The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement confirming that discussions centered on bilateral relations and the issue of prisoner exchanges but did not specify how many individuals were involved, their identities, or the reasons for their detention. Government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat echoed this, writing on X (formerly Twitter) that "both sides emphasized that they will continue to discuss various existing and future issues in bilateral relations, especially those citizens who are imprisoned in both countries."
At the heart of the negotiations is the fate of at least one US citizen, Mahmood Habibi, a 37-year-old who once led the Afghan Aviation Authority under the previous US-backed government. Habibi’s status remains shrouded in mystery following his arrest in August 2022. While his family alleges that the Taliban handed him over to Al-Qaeda, the Taliban authorities have denied any involvement in his disappearance. The United States, for its part, has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his return, underscoring the seriousness with which Washington is treating the case.
Another American, airline mechanic George Glezmann, 66, was freed in March 2025 after more than two years in detention. His release came during a previous visit to Kabul by Boehler and was seen as a rare bright spot in the otherwise fraught relations between the two countries. Glezmann was the third American freed by the Taliban since Donald Trump returned to the presidency in January, according to RFE/RL.
Prisoner exchanges between the US and Afghanistan are not without precedent. In January 2025, two Americans were freed in exchange for an Afghan fighter, Khan Mohammed, who had been convicted of narco-terrorism in the United States. These swaps, while not frequent, highlight the complex and often transactional nature of diplomacy in the region.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, following the withdrawal of US forces and the collapse of the US-backed government, dozens of foreign nationals have been arrested by the de-facto authorities. The Taliban’s approach to foreign detainees has ranged from strict enforcement to occasional gestures of goodwill. Just this week, Moscow announced the release of a Russian ethnologist who had been detained since July. The Russian foreign ministry said, "He had been detained in Afghanistan since July, accused of several offences... and was released by the Afghan authorities at the request of the Russian side, given the friendly relations with Moscow." Russia remains the only country to officially recognize the Taliban government.
The context for these negotiations is a country facing immense challenges. Afghanistan has been rocked by unrest, economic collapse, and, most recently, a devastating earthquake. On August 31, 2025, a major tremor struck the remote mountainous province of Kunar, killing more than 2,200 people and injuring over 3,600. Entire villages were wiped out, compounding the misery of a nation already grappling with poverty and instability.
Despite international isolation and widespread accusations of human rights violations—particularly against women—the Taliban have repeatedly stated their desire for "good relations" with other countries, including the United States. The foreign minister reiterated this position during the recent talks, calling for a "return to normal relations" and insisting that "there were no irresolvable problems in bilateral relations." Several countries, including Pakistan, China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran, have kept their embassies open in Afghanistan since 2021, though most of the world still withholds formal recognition of the Taliban regime.
For the Taliban rulers, improving ties with the global community is not just a matter of prestige; it is a matter of survival. The regime is beset by economic hardship, natural disasters, and persistent unrest. By engaging in dialogue over sensitive issues like prisoner exchanges, the Taliban hope to signal a willingness to cooperate and perhaps inch closer to the legitimacy they crave on the world stage.
Yet, skepticism remains high among US officials and the broader international community. The lack of transparency about detainees, the Taliban’s ongoing human rights abuses, and the group’s complicated history with terrorist organizations all cast long shadows over any potential deal. The US government’s $5 million reward for information on Habibi’s whereabouts is a stark reminder of the stakes involved and the deep mistrust that persists.
As both sides continue to talk, the fate of Americans and other foreign nationals detained in Afghanistan hangs in the balance. The outcome of these negotiations could have far-reaching implications—not just for the individuals involved, but for the broader trajectory of US-Afghan relations in the post-war era. For now, the world watches and waits, hoping that dialogue will lead to concrete action, and that the path toward normal relations—however rocky—remains open.
