Amiry’s case adds to a growing list of instances where Doha has played a key role in facilitating the release of American citizens detained abroad.
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An American man held in Afghanistan since December 2024 has been released following months of back-channel diplomacy, the US State Department announced on Sunday. The man, identified as 36-year-old Amir Amiry, was freed after sustained negotiations involving Qatari mediators and senior US officials. He is now en route to the United States, a diplomatic source familiar with the talks told CNN.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement expressing gratitude to Qatar for its role in securing Amiry’s release. “Qatar’s strong partnership and tireless diplomatic efforts were vital to securing his release,” Rubio said. He also pledged that “President Trump will not rest until all our captive citizens are back home,” framing the development as a “significant step” by authorities in Kabul.
Taliban Statement on Amiry’s Release
The Taliban’s deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat confirmed that the release was discussed in a meeting between US hostage envoy Adam Boehler and Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. Fitrat quoted Muttaqi as saying that Amiry’s freedom underscored the Taliban government’s position that “issues concerning foreign nationals” should be resolved diplomatically and “not from a political perspective.”
Washington has not disclosed why Amiry was in Afghanistan or the circumstances behind his detention. The US has lacked a diplomatic presence in Kabul since the fall of the Afghan government in August 2022, relying instead on Qatar to mediate contacts with the Taliban.
Partnership With Qatar Proves Crucial
Amiry’s case adds to a growing list of instances where Doha has played a key role in facilitating the release of American citizens detained abroad. Analysts note that the development highlights Qatar’s unique leverage with the Taliban as well as its broader importance to US foreign policy in the region.
While details about Amiry’s time in custody remain scarce, US officials stress that his return home reflects the administration’s ongoing efforts to prioritise the safe recovery of all Americans wrongfully detained overseas.