An American woman, Faye Hall, has been released by the Taliban in Afghanistan after being held for months. Washington’s former ambassador to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, confirmed her release on Saturday.
“American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home,” Khalilzad posted on X. He posted a picture of Hall beaming with Qatari officials before her flight.
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Hall was arrested in February along with British nationals Peter and Barbie Reynolds and their Afghan interpreter. They were on their way to the Reynolds’ house in central Bamiyan province when they were arrested. Taliban authorities have not given reasons for their arrest.
Taliban Continues Detentions
While Hall has been freed, the British couple remains in Taliban custody. Their daughter has voiced deep concern for her father’s health and urged authorities for their immediate release. Peter and Barbie Reynolds have lived in Afghanistan for decades and have run educational programs there for 18 years. Despite the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, they chose to stay after the British embassy withdrew its staff.
Qatar’s Role in Hostage Releases
Hall’s release came after a recent trip to Kabul by Khalilzad and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler. Following talks with Taliban representatives, another American, George Glezmann, was released after more than two years in custody through a Qatari-brokered agreement.
Earlier this year, the US negotiated the release of Ryan Corbett and William McKenty in return for an Afghan combatant, Khan Mohammed, who had been convicted of narco-terrorism in the US. At least one other American, Mahmood Habibi, however, is still in the hands of the Taliban.
International Relations and Future Prospects
The Taliban regime continues to be unrecognized internationally, although nations such as Russia, China, and Turkey have continued diplomatic representation in Kabul. The Afghan government has been hoping for a “new chapter” with Washington since US President Donald Trump’s re-election, which leaves future diplomatic interactions uncertain.
