Kabul – In a significant diplomatic step, an American delegation led by Mr. Adam Boehler, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, held discussions yesterday with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, following the release of a detained American citizen.

The meeting was confirmed by both sides shortly after the IEA released American national Amir Amiri, who had been held in Afghanistan. The high-level talks signal a continuation of fragile, yet necessary, communication channels between Washington and Kabul.

Foreign Minister Muttaqi hailed the release as a demonstration that the Government of Afghanistan views issues concerning foreign nationals with a focus on humanitarianism and not politics.

He stressed that the event “reiterated that diplomacy provides pathways for resolving such matters.”

Muttaqi also extended the IEA’s gratitude to the State of Qatar for its effective and crucial role in facilitating prisoner releases and diplomatic engagement between the Islamic Emirate and the United States.

Boehler Calls Release a ‘Good Moment’

Special Presidential Envoy Adam Boehler welcomed the IEA’s decision to release the American national, referring to it as a “good moment” in the ongoing, complex bilateral relationship.

Boehler further described the previous round of discussions between the two parties as “constructive” and expressed hope that the dialogue would continue “the remaining issues.”

The United States has consistently prioritized the release of detained American citizens in Afghanistan, making these negotiations a core component of its limited engagement with the IEA administration.

The involvement of Qatar, a crucial intermediary, underscores the reliance on third-party diplomacy to bridge the deep political gap between the two nations.

Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, linked the release to improving cordial relations between the two nations.

IEA Demands Release of Last GITMO Detainee

The goodwill generated by the release of Amir Amiri was immediately tied to a reciprocal demand from the Islamic Emirate.

According to the reports, IEA pressed the US for the release of the last Afghan citizen currently jailed in the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay (GITMO), Muhammad Rahim.

Rahim’s case is highly sensitive. He is the last Afghan citizen held at the facility, and his transfer has been a long-standing demand of the IEA.

Sources from the IEA indicated anticipation that Muhammad Rahim “will soon travel to Qatar and later shift to Afghanistan,” noting that he was a figure previously demanded by the Al Qaeda network.

However, the possibility of Rahim’s release remains sharply disputed on the US side. According to independent reports from Sarah Adams, Muhammad Rahim is not going to be released, introducing a significant point of contention into the otherwise positive diplomatic exchange.

The unresolved status of Rahim highlights the deep-seated political and security disagreements that continue to complicate US-IEA relations despite progress on individual humanitarian cases.

ALSO SEE

Afghan Taliban Official Found Among TTP Militants in Bajaur, Pakistan

An Afghan Taliban official found among TTP militants in Bajaur, heightening Pakistan’s concerns over cross-border terrorism.