Archive · 27 Jan 2026
Taliban Demand Guantanamo Detainee Release as US Talks Stall
The Taliban and the US are having trouble agreeing on the release of prisoners.
The Taliban wants the US to release an Afghan prisoner from Guantánamo Bay in exchange for freeing American prisoners held in Afghanistan.
The US says it won't make any deals until all Americans are freed.
There are still a few Americans being held in Afghanistan, and the Taliban says they don't know where one of them is.
Both sides are blaming each other for the delay.
The US doesn't officially recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan, but they have been talking to try to solve this problem.
Taliban demands the release of the last Afghan inmate at Guantánamo Bay in exchange for US detainees.
US accuses Afghanistan of hostage diplomacy and demands the release of all Americans held in Afghanistan.
Taliban claims they have two US citizens in custody, but the whereabouts of a third are unknown.
US officials state that Muhammad Rahim, the Afghan detainee, will not be part of any future deal.
Negotiations have stalled, with both sides making public statements to clarify their positions.
- Who
- US and Afghan officials, Taliban, and the Trump administration.
- What
- Negotiations over the release of US detainees and an Afghan detainee at Guantánamo Bay.
- When
- Talks have been ongoing for months, with recent public statements.
- Where
- Afghanistan and the United States.
- Why
- To resolve the impasse in negotiations and secure the release of detainees.
- US Detainees
- At least five US prisoners have been freed from Afghanistan over the past year.
- Afghan Detainee
- Muhammad Rahim, accused of acting as a courier and interpreter for Osama Bin Laden.
- US Citizens in Afghan Custody
- Dennis Walter Coyle, Polynesis Jackson, and Mahmood Habibi.
- Taliban's Demand
- Release of the last Afghan inmate at Guantánamo Bay.
- US Administration's Stance
- Demands the release of all Americans detained in Afghanistan.