​ American citizen, Aamir Amiri, has been released from Taliban`s custody in Afghanistan, a move that U.S. officials and analysts believe could pave the way for good relations between Kabul and Washington.

​Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, confirmed Amiri’s release, describing it as a positive development. This is a good step towards better relations between Kabul and Washington, he stated.

​The release of Amiri follows a series of recent prisoner releases by the Taliban, who seized control of the country in August 2021. The group is actively seeking international recognition and a stronger diplomatic footing, particularly with the United States.

​Amiri’s release comes on the heels of four other American citizens being freed earlier in 2025, including Ryan Corbett and George Glazeman. Several of these releases were facilitated through prisoner swaps and diplomatic mediation, with Qatar playing a crucial role as a go-between.

​Khalilzad expressed his hope that the release of the remaining American detainees would lead to a full resolution of the issue. He also emphasized the importance of preventing future detentions of this nature. While the Taliban deny it, U.S. officials maintain that other Americans, including Mahmood Habibi, are still being held in Afghanistan.

​According to experts, the release of Amiri underscores the critical importance of direct dialogue and diplomatic channels between the U.S. and the Taliban. This latest development suggests that despite ongoing tensions a path for communication remains open, offering a glimmer of hope for future engagement.