Afghanistan: American detained by Taliban is freed

An American woman detained last month in Afghanistan on charges of using a drone without permission has been freed by the Taliban, the former United States envoy for Afghanistan said 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," Zalmay Khalilzad wrote on X. 

There was no immediate comment or confirmation from the US State Department.

Reuters news agency cited a source with knowledge of the release saying that Hall was freed on Thursday following a court order.

The source said the release took place with logistical support from Qatar in its role as the US's protecting power in Afghanistan.

Hall was received at the Qatari embassy in Kabul and was confirmed to be in good health after undergoing a series of medical checks, the source said.

Reuters reported that arrangements were underway for her return to the US.

Hall was with British couple when arrested

Hall was arrested in February together with a British couple, Barbie and Peter Reynolds, and an Afghan translator as they traveled to the British couple's home in central Bamiyan province.

 The Reynolds, who married in Kabul in 1970, have run school training programmes in the country for 18 years. 

They remained in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021 when the British embassy withdrew its staff.

The British couple remains in Taliban custody.

Several other US citizens detained by the Taliban have been freed so far this year, including George Glezmann, after more than two years of detention, in a deal brokered by Qatar.

In January, two others — Ryan Corbett and William McKenty — were freed in exchange for an Afghan fighter, Khan Mohammed, who was convicted of narco-terrorism in the US.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar