Following reports about ongoing discussions on a potential prisoner exchange between the United States and the Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the de-facto government told Salam Watandar that Afghanistan is now waiting for the US to take practical steps.
Mujahid added that for the prisoner exchange between the two countries to take place, the US must consider the demands of the Islamic Emirate.
“Some Americans are imprisoned in Afghanistan, but regarding the exchange of prisoners, we have been in contact with them multiple times; discussions have taken place. We are waiting for them to take practical steps and to consider Afghanistan’s demands. We also have prisoners in Guantanamo, and discussions continue, but so far no practical steps have been taken in this regard,” the spokesperson said.
While the Islamic Emirate is calling for practical actions from the US regarding the prisoner exchange, the US has yet to reach a common viewpoint on this matter.
According to Reuters, US President Joe Biden, in talks with the families of American detainees in Afghanistan, emphasized his commitment to securing the return of American prisoners. However, next US President Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News, stated that he does not support prisoner exchanges but would consider the issue.
Experts on international relations and political affairs view good faith and the exchange of prisoners between the two countries as significant factors in shaping the new US administration’s policies towards Afghanistan.
International relations expert Niaz Mohammad Hamdard comments: “The issues we face in Afghanistan can be resolved in two ways: one is through peace and negotiations, and the other is through war. The Trump administration could resolve this issue through negotiations with the Islamic Emirate. Surely, both sides have their conditions. If an understanding is reached between the two, it could lead to closer relations.”
Another expert on international relations and political affairs, Enayatullah Hemmat, adds: “Negotiations can take place in this regard, and both parties can be convinced that, based on the importance of the individuals and the cases involved, an exchange should occur. Both sides can contact each other and assure each other of their good intentions. Of course, the Trump administration has heavily emphasized that Americans imprisoned anywhere should be released unconditionally, but the demands of both sides should be considered.”
According to reports from US media, talks on the prisoner exchange between the US and the Islamic Emirate began in July 2024, involving the exchange of Mohammad Rahim Al-Afghani from a US prison and American prisoners Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann, and Mahmood Habibi held in Afghanistan.
Two days ago, Hamdullah Fetrat, the deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, also stated that “several innocent Afghans” are being held in US prisons without trial.
