The U.S. State Department is actively engaging with Taliban representatives to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Americans detained in Afghanistan, spokesperson Matthew Miller revealed in a press briefing on Tuesday.
The clarification came amid discussions on the recent release of a U.S. citizen, which some reports had mistakenly associated with a prisoner exchange involving senior Taliban members.
Addressing a question about the release, initially reported by Al Arabiya, Miller explained the situation involved two Afghan nationals from Guantanamo Bay sent to Oman, unrelated to any exchange.
“There were security guarantees given that were going to expire at a certain time, and upon the expiration of those security guarantees, they were going to be released,” he noted, dismissing the notion of a direct exchange for the detained American.
Miller emphasized the U.S. government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and freedom of its citizens. “Of course, we continue to press, including in meetings with Taliban representatives, for the immediate and unconditional release of Americans detained in Afghanistan,” he stated, underscoring the detentions as a significant hurdle to positive U.S.-Afghanistan relations.
The remarks come as the U.S. government has said it will continue its efforts to resolve the issue of American detainees.
