US, Taliban Envoys Hold Talks Over Detained Americans, Normalizing Relations/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Taliban said its leaders met with U.S. envoys to discuss normalizing relations and freeing detainees. Talks included Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Adam Boehler, and Zalmay Khalilzad, though Washington has not confirmed details. The discussions highlight ongoing tensions over American hostages, sanctions, and Afghanistan’s mineral resources.
Quick Look
- Meeting participants: Taliban FM Amir Khan Muttaqi met Adam Boehler and Zalmay Khalilzad.
- Topics discussed: Normalizing ties, prisoner exchanges, investment opportunities.
- Hostages issue: US citizen Mahmood Habibi remains missing, blocking wider engagement.
- Diplomatic gap: Taliban seeks recognition; Washington remains reluctant.
- Economic pitch: Taliban promotes rare earth mineral investment, criticizes US sanctions.
- Trump priority: President Trump pushes new measures to free detained Americans.
US, Taliban Envoys Hold Talks Over Detained Americans, Normalizing Relations
Deep Look
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban said on Saturday that it held talks with U.S. envoys over normalizing relations, addressing prisoner cases, and exploring investment opportunities, marking a rare high-level engagement amid persistent diplomatic tensions.
The Taliban’s foreign ministry released a statement confirming that acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Adam Boehler, President Donald Trump’s special envoy for hostage affairs, and Zalmay Khalilzad, a former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan. Photographs of the meeting were circulated, though neither the White House nor the State Department immediately commented.
According to the Taliban, “comprehensive discussions were held on developing bilateral relations, issues concerning citizens, and investment opportunities in Afghanistan.” The U.S. envoys also expressed condolences for victims of a recent earthquake in eastern Afghanistan.
Hostages at the Center of Talks
The meeting comes as Washington continues to push for the release of Americans it says are wrongfully detained in Afghanistan. Chief among them is Mahmood Habibi, a naturalized U.S. citizen who disappeared in Kabul three years ago. While U.S. officials accuse the Taliban of holding him, Taliban leaders deny knowledge of his whereabouts.
The unresolved case has become a major sticking point. U.S. officials describe Habibi’s detention as a serious impediment to further engagement. Last year, the Taliban rejected a proposed swap of Habibi for Mohammad Rahim al-Afghani, the last Afghan prisoner held at Guantanamo Bay.
A source familiar with Washington’s position told Reuters that frustration is growing over the Taliban’s “slow process” in meeting international commitments, particularly on human rights and hostage cases.
Economic Offers, Diplomatic Barriers
Alongside hostage discussions, Taliban officials pressed for economic engagement. Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar reportedly outlined opportunities in Afghanistan’s rare earth minerals and other sectors, while condemning U.S. sanctions. He urged Washington “to pursue engagement rather than confrontation” and contribute to Afghanistan’s reconstruction.
However, the United States has not recognized the Taliban government since it seized power in 2021 after two decades of U.S.-led military intervention. Sanctions and a lack of recognition continue to isolate Kabul internationally, leaving its appeals for investment largely unmet.
Trump’s Hostage Policy
The meeting reflects the Trump administration’s emphasis on freeing Americans held abroad. Since taking office, Trump has secured the release of dozens of detainees from countries including Russia, Venezuela, and Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order authorizing Washington to label countries as “state sponsors of wrongful detention” and impose sanctions. In January, a swap deal saw two Americans freed from Afghanistan in exchange for an Afghan prisoner held in the U.S. In March, Boehler returned from Kabul with George Glezmann, an American tourist detained in 2022.
The latest talks, while not confirming immediate breakthroughs, signal continued back-channel efforts to secure detainee releases and test whether any space exists for improving the deeply strained U.S.-Taliban relationship.
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