Prisoner exchange deal with Taliban finalized on Biden’s last day in office

In the final hours of President Joe Biden’s term, a long-awaited prisoner exchange deal was struck with the Taliban. The agreement involved swapping two Americans held in Afghanistan for a Taliban member serving a life sentence in a US prison.

The exchange was delayed, partly due to bad weather, until former President Donald Trump was back in the White House. Finally, Americans Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were handed over and on their way home in exchange for Taliban member Khan Mohammed.

Qatar facilitated the trade by hosting negotiations and providing logistical support for the operation. The outgoing administration’s plan for the trade was communicated to Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, by Biden’s adviser, Jake Sullivan.

While there was initial resistance from the Trump administration, they eventually acknowledged and approved the swap. Mohammed, along with Biden’s envoy for hostage affairs, Ambassador Roger Carstens, were involved in the trade.

The Taliban, preferring Trump to receive credit for the deal, orchestrated the release to coincide with his return to the White House. Efforts are ongoing to secure the release of other Americans held by the Taliban.

Both Corbett and McKenty are expected to land in the US shortly, but their final destination remains undisclosed. The release follows years of negotiations and multiple trips to Doha by US officials.

The prisoner exchange deal, brokered after years of negotiations, is a significant development in US-Afghanistan relations. It marks a positive step towards resolving issues through dialogue, according to the Afghan Foreign Ministry.

Biden’s administration, known for its diplomatic successes in hostage negotiations, sees this exchange as a crucial step towards securing the release of Americans held unjustly abroad.