American citizen released by Taliban 9 months after arrest in Afghanistan

Source: CBS News

Amir Amiri, an American citizen detained nine months ago in Afghanistan, was released Sunday and is on his way back to the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced.

"Today we welcome home Amir Amiry, an American who was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan," wrote Rubio in a social media post. "I want to thank Qatar for helping secure his freedom."

A source with knowledge of the release previously told CBS News that Qatari diplomats had coordinated with the office of the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs to facilitate it. After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, Qatar signed an accord to represent U.S. interests in the country. Before Amiri, it had helped secure the release of four other American citizens from Afghanistan earlier this year.

Amiri was detained in December 2024. Qatar began negotiating for his release in March, at first arranging a meeting between Amiri and the U.S. Special Envoy Adam Boehler during his visit to Afghanistan, according to the source with knowledge of his release. Qatari diplomats monitored Amiri's health and maintained close communication with U.S. officials throughout his detention, the source told CBS News.

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