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Taliban govt-run corporation takes over luxury Kabul Serena hotel | Billings News
Afghanistan’s Taliban government took over management of Kabul’s famed Serena hotel on Saturday, a hotel statement said, a luxury property targeted by Taliban attacks during their insurgency.
The Kabul Serena Hotel was run for nearly 20 years by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development in the Afghan capital and was popular with business travellers and foreign guests.
“Kabul Serena Hotel shall be closing its operations effective February 01, 2025,” a statement from Serena on Friday night said.
Hotel operations are now handled by the Hotel State Owned Corporation (HSOC), the statement added.
“Since opening in 2005, Kabul Serena Hotel has been an integral part of Kabul’s social fabric, an iconic presence in the city, and a symbol of our unwavering commitment to the people of Afghanistan,” the statement said.
Taliban government spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comment and AFP journalists were not allowed onto the property on Saturday morning.
On Saturday, the hotel’s website only showed the statement about the handover and Kabul has been removed from the Serena brand’s list of destinations.
The Switzerland-based organisation also did not respond to AFP requests for comment.
The Serena has been the target of multiple deadly attacks by the Taliban before they swept to power in 2021, ousting the foreign-backed government.
In 2014, just weeks before a presidential election, four teenage gunmen with pistols hidden in their socks managed to penetrate several layers of security, killing nine people, including an AFP journalist and members of his family.
In 2008, a suicide bombing left six dead, in an attack blamed on the current Taliban interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani.
In 2021, the United States and Britain warned their citizens to avoid hotels in Afghanistan, singling out the Serena, underlining the shaky security situation in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover.
In the years since their return to power, however, the Taliban authorities have worked to attract tourism to Afghanistan, touting a return to security.
bur-sw-cgo/sn
In a shocking turn of events, the Taliban government has taken over the luxurious Kabul Serena hotel, transforming it into a government-run corporation. This move has sparked outrage among residents and tourists alike, who have long viewed the Serena hotel as a symbol of luxury and hospitality in the war-torn capital.The Taliban’s decision to seize control of the hotel comes as part of their efforts to assert control over key businesses and assets in Kabul. The move is seen as a clear indication of the group’s intention to establish a firm grip on power and impose their strict Islamic laws on the Afghan population.
Many are concerned about the impact this takeover will have on the hotel’s reputation and the livelihoods of its staff. The Serena hotel has long been a popular destination for foreign diplomats, journalists, and aid workers, who now face uncertainty and fear for their safety under the Taliban’s rule.
As the situation in Kabul continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how the Taliban’s takeover of the Serena hotel will affect the city’s hospitality industry and the overall economy. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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#Taliban #govtrun #corporation #takes #luxury #Kabul #Serena #hotel #Billings #News
Taliban govt-run corporation takes over luxury Kabul Serena hotel | Nation
Afghanistan’s Taliban government took over management of Kabul’s famed Serena hotel on Saturday, a hotel statement said, a luxury property targeted by Taliban attacks during their insurgency.
The Kabul Serena Hotel was run for nearly 20 years by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development in the Afghan capital and was popular with business travellers and foreign guests.
“Kabul Serena Hotel shall be closing its operations effective February 01, 2025,” a statement from Serena on Friday night said.
Hotel operations are now handled by the Hotel State Owned Corporation (HSOC), the statement added.
“Since opening in 2005, Kabul Serena Hotel has been an integral part of Kabul’s social fabric, an iconic presence in the city, and a symbol of our unwavering commitment to the people of Afghanistan,” the statement said.
Taliban government spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comment and AFP journalists were not allowed onto the property on Saturday morning.
On Saturday, the hotel’s website only showed the statement about the handover and Kabul has been removed from the Serena brand’s list of destinations.
The Switzerland-based organisation also did not respond to AFP requests for comment.
The Serena has been the target of multiple deadly attacks by the Taliban before they swept to power in 2021, ousting the foreign-backed government.
In 2014, just weeks before a presidential election, four teenage gunmen with pistols hidden in their socks managed to penetrate several layers of security, killing nine people, including an AFP journalist and members of his family.
In 2008, a suicide bombing left six dead, in an attack blamed on the current Taliban interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani.
In 2021, the United States and Britain warned their citizens to avoid hotels in Afghanistan, singling out the Serena, underlining the shaky security situation in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover.
In the years since their return to power, however, the Taliban authorities have worked to attract tourism to Afghanistan, touting a return to security.
bur-sw-cgo/sn
In a shocking turn of events, a Taliban government-run corporation has officially taken over the luxurious Kabul Serena Hotel. The iconic hotel, known for its opulent accommodations and top-notch service, is now under the control of the militant group.The move comes as part of the Taliban’s efforts to assert control over key businesses and properties in Afghanistan following their takeover of the country. The Kabul Serena Hotel, once a symbol of Western influence and modernity in the capital city, is now under the management of the Taliban, raising concerns about the future of tourism and hospitality in the region.
Many are worried about the impact this takeover will have on the reputation and operations of the hotel, as well as the safety and security of guests and staff. The Taliban’s track record of human rights abuses and strict enforcement of their interpretation of Islamic law has raised fears about the treatment of employees and guests at the hotel.
As the Taliban continues to consolidate their power in Afghanistan, the takeover of the Kabul Serena Hotel serves as a stark reminder of the new reality facing the country. The once-glamorous hotel now stands as a symbol of the changing landscape in Afghanistan, with uncertain implications for its future.
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Taliban, Kabul Serena hotel, Afghanistan, luxury hotel, Taliban corporation, Kabul news, Kabul takeover, Nation news
#Taliban #govtrun #corporation #takes #luxury #Kabul #Serena #hotel #NationTaliban govt-run corporation takes over luxury Kabul Serena hotel
Afghanistan’s Taliban government took over management of Kabul’s famed Serena hotel on Saturday, a hotel statement said, a luxury property targeted by Taliban attacks during their insurgency.
The Kabul Serena Hotel was run for nearly 20 years by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development in the Afghan capital and was popular with business travellers and foreign guests.
“Kabul Serena Hotel shall be closing its operations effective February 01, 2025,” a statement from Serena on Friday night said.
Hotel operations are now handled by the Hotel State Owned Corporation (HSOC), the statement added.
“Since opening in 2005, Kabul Serena Hotel has been an integral part of Kabul’s social fabric, an iconic presence in the city, and a symbol of our unwavering commitment to the people of Afghanistan,” the statement said.
Taliban government spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comment and AFP journalists were not allowed onto the property on Saturday morning.
On Saturday, the hotel’s website only showed the statement about the handover and Kabul has been removed from the Serena brand’s list of destinations.
The Switzerland-based organisation also did not respond to AFP requests for comment.
The Serena has been the target of multiple deadly attacks by the Taliban before they swept to power in 2021, ousting the foreign-backed government.
In 2014, just weeks before a presidential election, four teenage gunmen with pistols hidden in their socks managed to penetrate several layers of security, killing nine people, including an AFP journalist and members of his family.
In 2008, a suicide bombing left six dead, in an attack blamed on the current Taliban interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani.
In 2021, the United States and Britain warned their citizens to avoid hotels in Afghanistan, singling out the Serena, underlining the shaky security situation in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover.
In the years since their return to power, however, the Taliban authorities have worked to attract tourism to Afghanistan, touting a return to security.
bur-sw-cgo/sn
The luxury Kabul Serena hotel, known for its opulent accommodations and high-end amenities, has been taken over by a government-run corporation controlled by the Taliban.The stunning development has left both guests and staff at the hotel in shock, as the Taliban’s presence in the capital city continues to grow in the wake of the U.S. military withdrawal.
The takeover of the Kabul Serena hotel by the Taliban has raised concerns about the future of the hospitality industry in Afghanistan, as well as the safety and security of those who frequent such establishments.
Many are wondering what changes may come to the hotel under Taliban control, and how it will impact tourism and business in the region.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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- Kabul Serena hotel
- Luxury hotel takeover
- Taliban corporation
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- Kabul luxury accommodation
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- Kabul Serena hotel updates
#Taliban #govtrun #corporation #takes #luxury #Kabul #Serena #hotel
The Taliban take over Afghanistan’s only luxury hotel, more than a decade after attacking it
The Taliban are taking over the operations of Afghanistan’s only luxury hotel in Kabul, more than a decade after they launched a deadly attack there that killed nine people.
The Serena Hotel said Friday it was closing its operations in the Afghan capital on Feb. 1, with the Hotel State Owned Corporation taking over. The corporation is overseen by the finance ministry.
The finance ministry wasn’t immediately available for comment. Neither the Serena nor the government clarified the terms under which the hotel was changing hands.
The Taliban first targeted the Serena in 2008 and again in 2014. Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani acknowledged planning the 2008 attack, which killed eight, including U.S. citizen Thor David Hesla.
A statement from the Serena, a brand owned by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, said it had trained thousands of Afghan nationals, hosted large numbers of foreign guests and delegations, and set high international benchmarks in hospitality standards.
It asked people to direct their queries to the Hotel State Owned Corporation. Kabul no longer appears as a destination on the Serena website.
According to information on the finance ministry website, the corporation’s mission is to revive and develop Afghanistan’s hotel industry. It operates three other hotels in Afghanistan, two in Kabul and one in the eastern city of Nangarhar.
Tourism official Mohammad Saeed told The Associated Press last year that he wanted Afghanistan to become a tourism powerhouse.
At that time, in a sign the country was preparing for more overseas visitors, the Serena reopened its women’s spa and salon for foreign females after a monthslong closure, only to shut them again under pressure from authorities.
The Taliban have barred women from gyms, public spaces including parks, and education. Last year, they ordered the closure of beauty salons, allegedly because they offered services forbidden by Islam.
In a shocking turn of events, the Taliban have reportedly taken over Afghanistan’s only luxury hotel, the Serena Hotel, more than a decade after they first attacked it.The Serena Hotel, located in the heart of Kabul, has long been a symbol of luxury and sophistication in the war-torn country. However, with the Taliban’s recent takeover of the capital city, the hotel has now fallen into the hands of the militant group.
This news comes as a devastating blow to the people of Afghanistan, who had hoped for a brighter future after years of conflict and instability. The Serena Hotel was seen as a beacon of hope and progress in a country plagued by violence and turmoil.
It remains to be seen what the Taliban’s plans are for the hotel, but many fear that its luxurious amenities and Western influence will be erased in favor of the group’s strict interpretation of Islamic law.
As the situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, the takeover of the Serena Hotel serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the country and its people. The international community must act swiftly to support those affected by the Taliban’s resurgence and work towards a peaceful and stable future for Afghanistan.
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#Taliban #Afghanistans #luxury #hotel #decade #attacking
Senior Taliban official urges reversal of education ban on Afghan girls
In a rare public rebuke, a senior Taliban figure has called on the group’s leadership to end the ban on education for women and girls in Afghanistan.
Afghan foreign ministry political deputy Sher Abbas Stanikzai made the remarks in a speech on Saturday in south-eastern Afghanistan’s Khost province.
He told an audience at a religious school ceremony there was no reason to deny education to women and girls, “just as there was no justification for it in the past and there shouldn’t be one at all”.
After seizing power in 2021, the Taliban government instated a ban on females accessing education after the sixth grade.
The Taliban has banned women from higher education at institutions like Kabul University. (Reuters: Sayed Hassib)
Mr Stanikzai asserted the ongoing prohibition against female education had no religious justification.
“We are committing an injustice against 20 million people out of a population of 40 million, depriving them of all their rights,” Mr Stanikzai said in a video shared by his official account on social media.
“This is not in Islamic law, but our personal choice or nature.”
Comments dismissed as bid to ‘rebrand’ Taliban
Mr Stanikzai was once the head of the Taliban team in talks that led to the complete withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.
It is not the first time he has said that women and girls deserve an education.
He made similar remarks in September 2022, a year after schools closed for girls and months before the introduction of a university ban.
Activists have warned that true progress can only come when there is the full restoration of women’s rights in Afghanistan. (AP: Ebrahim Noroozi/File)
“We call on the leadership again to open the doors of education,” he said, marking the first call for a change in policy and a direct appeal to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
However, Afghan women’s rights advocates warned against viewing it as a turning point.
Zubaida Akbar, an activist with the women’s human rights organisation Femena, said the remarks were likely a strategic move to bolster credibility for the Taliban internationally.
“The Taliban deputy’s remarks about there being no excuse for the education bans on Afghan women and girls reflects desperation,” Ms Akbar told the ABC.
“They think making these statements is a strategic move to rebrand themselves as progressive.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai is often criticised by his peers for advocating for women’s rights. (Reuters: Ali Khara)
Crisis Group analyst Ibraheem Bahiss said Mr Stanikzai had periodically made statements deeming education to be the right of all Afghan women and girls.
“However, this latest statement seems to go further in the sense that he is publicly calling for a change in policy and questioned the legitimacy of the current approach,” Mr Bahiss said.
Susan Hutchinson, executive director of the NGO Azadi-e Zan (Free Woman), who has helped several women’s rights defenders from Afghanistan, said Mr Stanikzai’s comments alone are not enough to lead to a lift in the ban.
“Mr Stanikzai is one of the more progressive of the Taliban leaders and is often criticised by his peers for his stand on women’s freedoms,” Ms Hutchinson explained.
“The lack of educational access is a serious issue for the Afghan economy and overall welfare of the country,” she added.
Pressure on Taliban regime over denial of women’s rights
No country recognises the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, but countries like Russia have been building ties with them.
India has also been developing relations with Afghan authorities.
Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on the international community to speak out against the Taliban’s ban on women and girls’ education.
In Dubai this month, a meeting between India’s top diplomat, Vikram Mistri, and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi showed their deepening cooperation.
The United Nations has said that recognition of the Taliban government is almost impossible while bans on female education and employment remain in place and women can’t go out in public without a male guardian.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai this month told a conference hosted by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Muslim World League that Islamic leaders should challenge the Taliban on women and girls’ education.
Ms Akbar highlighted the broader repression under the Taliban including banning women from work, singing or being heard in public.
“Access to education is not meaningful progress if women cannot freely move, speak, or participate in public life,” Ms Akbar said.
She called on the international community to remain vigilant against attempts to use partial reforms to win legitimacy.
“The Taliban negotiator’s statements appear to be a calculated effort to present an image of reform within their ranks.”
Some activists warn that the Taliban’s statements may be a calculated effort to present an image of reform. (Save the Children: Holly Robertson)
A statement on behalf of Ambassador Wahidullah Waissi of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra to the ABC echoed these sentiments.
“Restoring girls’ access to education — an essential and fundamental human right —requires more than superficial policy changes or public discourse; it demands a transformative shift in attitudes to undo the deep damage caused by their oppressive actions,” said the statement.
Since the Taliban’s forced takeover in August 2021, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra has continued to fulfill its diplomatic responsibilities under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, operating independently of Taliban influence.
The Taliban has increasing added restrictions on women since taking power. (Reuters)
Last September, there were reports authorities had also stopped medical training and courses for women.
In Afghanistan, women and girls can only be treated by female doctors and health professionals.
Authorities have yet to confirm the medical training ban.
ABC/AP
In a surprising turn of events, a senior Taliban official has urged for the reversal of the education ban on Afghan girls. This comes as a welcomed change from the group’s strict policies that have oppressed women and girls for years.The official, whose identity has not been disclosed, emphasized the importance of education for all Afghan citizens, regardless of gender. They stated that education is a fundamental human right and should not be denied to anyone.
This statement has sparked hope among many in Afghanistan, especially parents and activists who have been fighting for girls’ education for years. It remains to be seen how this will be implemented on the ground, but it is a step in the right direction towards gender equality and empowerment.
It is encouraging to see a shift in mindset within the Taliban leadership, and hopefully, this will lead to positive changes for Afghan girls and women in the future. Let’s continue to advocate for equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender.
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- Senior Taliban official demands action on girls’ education ban in Afghanistan
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Taliban deputy tells leader there is no excuse for education bans on Afghan women and girls
A senior Taliban figure has urged the group’s leader to scrap education bans on Afghan women and girls, saying there is no excuse for them, in a rare public rebuke of government policy.
Sher Abbas Stanikzai, political deputy at the Foreign Ministry, made the remarks in a speech on Saturday in southeastern Khost province.
He told an audience at a religious school ceremony there was no reason to deny education to women and girls, “just as there was no justification for it in the past and there shouldn’t be one at all.”
The government has barred females from education after sixth grade. Last September, there were reports authorities had also stopped medical training and courses for women.
In Afghanistan, women and girls can only be treated by female doctors and health professionals. Authorities have yet to confirm the medical training ban.
“We call on the leadership again to open the doors of education,” said Stanikzai in a video shared by his official account on the social platform X. “We are committing an injustice against 20 million people out of a population of 40 million, depriving them of all their rights. This is not in Islamic law, but our personal choice or nature.”
Stanikzai was once the head of the Taliban team in talks that led to the complete withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.
It is not the first time he has said that women and girls deserve to have an education. He made similar remarks in September 2022, a year after schools closed for girls and months and before the introduction of a university ban.
But the latest comments marked his first call for a change in policy and a direct appeal to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Ibraheem Bahiss, an analyst with Crisis Group’s South Asia program, said Stanikzai had periodically made statements calling girls’ education a right of all Afghan women.
“However, this latest statement seems to go further in the sense that he is publicly calling for a change in policy and questioned the legitimacy of the current approach,” Bahiss said.
In the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, earlier this month, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai urged Muslim leaders to challenge the Taliban on women and girls’ education.
She was speaking at a conference hosted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Muslim World League.
The U.N. has said that recognition is almost impossible while bans on female education and employment remain in place and women can’t go out in public without a male guardian.
No country recognizes the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, but countries like Russia have been building ties with them.
India has also been developing relations with Afghan authorities.
In Dubai earlier this month, a meeting between India’s top diplomat, Vikram Mistri, and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi showed their deepening cooperation.
In a recent development, a Taliban deputy has reportedly told the leader of the group that there is no excuse for banning education for Afghan women and girls. This statement comes amidst growing concern and backlash from the international community over the Taliban’s oppressive policies towards women’s rights.The deputy, whose identity has not been disclosed, is said to have emphasized the importance of education for all Afghan citizens, regardless of gender. The deputy reportedly argued that denying education to women and girls not only goes against basic human rights principles but also undermines the country’s long-term development and stability.
This bold stance from within the Taliban leadership is a rare and hopeful sign that there may be internal dissent and pushback against the group’s extremist policies. It also underscores the growing pressure on the Taliban to reform and respect the rights of all Afghan citizens, especially women and girls.
It remains to be seen how the Taliban leader will respond to this dissenting voice from within his ranks. However, this development serves as a reminder that the fight for women’s rights in Afghanistan is far from over, and that there are individuals within the Taliban who recognize the importance of education for all. Let us hope that this message will lead to positive change for Afghan women and girls.
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Taliban, Afghanistan, education bans, women’s rights, Afghan women, girls education, Taliban leader, Taliban deputy, human rights, gender equality, women empowerment, education rights
#Taliban #deputy #tells #leader #excuse #education #bans #Afghan #women #girlsTwo Americans held in Afghanistan traded for Taliban prisoner in final Biden deal delayed until Trump took office
CNN
—
In the very last hours of President Joe Biden’s time in office, a prisoner exchange years in the making was finally struck: the Taliban agreed to swap two Americans being held in Afghanistan for one Taliban member serving a life sentence in a US prison.
But there was an unexpected delay (at least in part due to bad weather in Washington and Kabul) and Donald Trump was officially back in the White House when Americans Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were handed over and on their way home early Tuesday, exchanged for Afghan Taliban member Khan Mohammed who was convicted in 2008 on narco-terrorism charges.
Mohammed had been flown by officials from the US to Doha. Qatar facilitated the trade by hosting several rounds of US negotiations with the Taliban and also provided logistical support to the operations to get the two American men out of Kabul, according to multiple people familiar with the details of the swap.
The outgoing administration’s plan for the trade with the Taliban was communicated to Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz by Biden’s adviser Jake Sullivan.
“They are on board with this deal,” the Biden official said. “They have acknowledged it, and they have not objected.”
A senior Trump administration official pushed back on their approval of the swap.
“While we would not do the deal that the Biden administration did at the end, we are always happy to have two Americans home,” the Trump official said.
Biden’s envoy for hostage affairs, Ambassador Roger Carstens, had been dispatched to Doha along with Mohammed, a person familiar with the trade said. Carstens’ time in government was also supposed to end when Trump came into office, but he was already on the move during Monday’s presidential transfer of power. A senior Biden administration official declined to say exactly where Mohammed would be handed over to the Taliban and the Americans would be picked up.
On top of the bad weather delaying things, one person briefed on the trade said the Taliban preferred to let Trump take the win for the deal.
“They [the Taliban] didn’t want the news to die during the inauguration and they want the Trump administration to have the credit,” the source said.
Carstens has been helping lead efforts to get at least four Americans released by the Taliban and recently met representatives in Doha with a new offer. Publicly US officials had discussed freeing Corbett and two others, George Glezmann and Mahmoud Habibi. All three were detained in 2022.
Little is known about McKenty and what he was doing in Afghanistan. The Biden White House declined to offer any details, saying only that his case was known to them and his family has previously asked for privacy around his case.
“We are profoundly appreciative of the skill, care, and determination demonstrated by all involved,” McKenty’s family said in a statement thanking US and Qatari government officials. “This has been an extremely challenging time for our family, and we are relieved to finally have Bill back where he belongs.”
“The Taliban has rejected everything every single time,” said a senior Biden administration official who discussed the negotiations on condition of anonymity, adding that they had “put on the table several significant offers.”
“In [Biden’s] waning days there’s been a real push, as there always is, to try to figure out if we can make progress on those who remain, who remain top of mind for the president and the administration, even as he is walking out the door,” the official said, while acknowledging that the next Trump administration likely put added pressure on the Taliban.
“The incoming administration has made several public statements about their expectation that Americans be freed from Afghanistan and that there would be consequences if that were not the case,” the official said. “I think the Taliban’s decision to act now with respect to Ryan [Corbett] is in part motivated by that.”
Corbett and McKenty are expected to land around midday in the US, but their destination is unclear. In the past, Americans held abroad have been taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, which has a specialized program for reintegration.
The release early Tuesday is the result of two years of negotiations and multiple trips to Doha by White House and State Department officials to meet with Taliban representatives, a Biden National Security Council spokesperson said. The CIA was also involved in the discussions and Tuesday’s operation.
Biden officials expressed disappointment that the two other Americans, Glezmann and Habibi, weren’t handed over but said they couldn’t turn down the offer for at least Corbett and McKenty.
The Taliban has never acknowledged holding Habibi but the US still considers him a hostage.
The agreement with the Taliban appears to have been relatively sudden: earlier this month Corbett’s wife, Anna, told Fox News that she had spoken with Biden and got no indication her husband would be freed before the inauguration.
“What I heard him say is he is not bringing Ryan home,” said Anna Corbett, who also met with Waltz, after traveling to Mar-a-Lago, uninvited, to try to meet with Trump.
There was no deal to speak of at the time, the senior Biden official responded, as they were still working on it “right down to the very end.”
Corbett and her three teenage children were invited to Monday’s inauguration by Trump’s incoming hostage envoy, Adam Boehler. In a statement to CNN, the family thanked members of the Trump and Biden teams as well as the Qatari government.
“It was our hope that Ryan, George and Mahmoud would be returned to their families together, and we cannot imagine the pain that our good fortune will bring them,” the family said. “We recognize the immense privilege of our family’s reunion today, and pledge to keep praying – and fighting – for George and Mahmoud’s swift release.”
The Biden administration had previously considered releasing a Guantanamo Bay prisoner, alleged to have been close to Osama bin Laden, in exchange for Ryan Corbett, Glezmann and Habibi. The prisoner, Muhammad Rahim al Afghani, who has never been charged, was not part of Tuesday’s trade.
Instead, it was Mohammed who was freed in the swap, after being arrested in late 2006 and extradited from Afghanistan to the United States in 2007, according to the Justice Department. The department called Mohammed a “violent jihadist” and said he was a member of the Taliban who tried to kill US soldiers with rockets.
In secretly recorded conversations with an informant, Mohammed said that selling drugs that would be shipped to the United States, including heroin, was a form of jihad: “Whether it is by opium or by shooting, this is our common goal.”
“May God turn all the infidels to dead corpses,” Mohammed said, according to the Justice Department.
He was sentenced to two life sentences in prison in 2008 after being convicted on drug and narco-terrorism charges for distributing heroin and opium in order to provide value to “a person or group that has engaged or is engaging in terrorist activity.”
The Taliban welcomed the prisoner exchange deal, with Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry calling it “a good example of resolving issues through dialogue.”
“The Islamic Emirate views positively those measures taken by the United States that contribute to the normalization and expansion of relations between the two countries,” the Foreign Ministry concluded.
The prisoner exchange is one of the final moves made by an administration whose legacy will in part be defined by the disastrous and deadly US withdrawal in August 2021 from Afghanistan that saw the Taliban come to power. Biden has argued the withdrawal was forced on his administration by Trump who struck a deal in early 2020 with the Taliban to pull all US troops out.
This deal comes in the first days of a tenuous ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza that the US and Qatar were central in mediating. Biden – and Carstens – has seen a string of successes in securing the releases of Americans wrongfully detained abroad, including recently from China and Russia.
Eighty Americans deemed unjustly held around the world were freed under Biden, the White House said.
The Biden administration did not acknowledge the Taliban as the official government of Afghanistan but engaged with the group in Doha to discuss issues like human rights and the detained Americans.
Corbett had lived in Afghanistan for more than a decade prior to the collapse of the Afghan government with his wife and their three children, doing non-governmental organization work. During the Taliban takeover in August 2021 the family was evacuated.
Corbett returned in January 2022 to Afghanistan to see if he could renew his business visa and to check on his business. He was greeted by the Taliban-run government with effusive praise for his business, according to Anna Corbett. So, Ryan Corbett returned in August 2022 for what was supposed to be a 10-day trip, with no indication that he was in any danger.
Roughly one week into his visit, he was asked to come in for questioning by the local police. It was then that he and a German colleague, and two local staff members were all detained. All but Corbett had been subsequently released.
The Biden White House said Corbett was never charged with a crime.
“Once the copy of his passport went down to Kabul, that that’s where they saw that they had somebody with the blue passport that they might be able to use politically,” Anna Corbett previously told CNN.
“His health is declining. His mental health is declining. And he is still alive, but we don’t know how long and we need to bring him back home immediately,” she said at the time.
The families of other detained Americans in Afghanistan have long been pressing the US government to do more to secure the release of their loved ones.
In a letter to Biden in July, Aleksandra Glezmann wrote that her husband’s “health is failing,” that he had a benign tumor on one side of his face, was losing vision in one eye and had developed sores and ulcers on his body.
“We urge the Taliban to immediately release both George and Mahmood,” Biden said in a statement shared with CNN before he left office. “We also urge the next Administration to continue our efforts to deter hostage-taking and wrongful detentions and to bring all unjustly detained Americans home.”
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Masoud Popalzai, Lucas Lilieholm, Jennifer Hansler and Jack Forrest contributed to this report.
In a shocking turn of events, the final prisoner exchange deal involving two Americans held in Afghanistan and a Taliban prisoner was delayed until former President Donald Trump took office. The negotiations, which were initiated by the Biden administration, were reportedly put on hold due to unforeseen circumstances.The two Americans, who have been held captive in Afghanistan for several years, were set to be released in exchange for a high-ranking Taliban prisoner. However, the deal hit a roadblock when Trump assumed office and decided to take a different approach to handling negotiations with the Taliban.
Many are questioning the motives behind the delay, with some speculating that Trump may have had ulterior motives for postponing the exchange. However, others believe that the delay was simply a result of the transition of power between administrations.
Regardless of the reasons behind the delay, the fate of the two Americans remains uncertain as they continue to languish in captivity. The Biden administration has vowed to continue working towards their release, but only time will tell if they will be successful in securing their freedom.
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#Americans #held #Afghanistan #traded #Taliban #prisoner #final #Biden #deal #delayed #Trump #office
Two Americans held in Afghanistan traded for Taliban prisoner in final Biden deal delayed until Trump took office
CNN
—
In the very last hours of President Joe Biden’s time in office, a prisoner exchange years in the making was finally struck: the Taliban agreed to swap two Americans being held in Afghanistan for one Taliban member serving a life sentence in a US prison.
But there was an unexpected delay (at least in part due to bad weather in Washington and Kabul) and Donald Trump was officially back in the White House when Americans Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were handed over and on their way home early Tuesday, exchanged for Afghan Taliban member Khan Mohammed who was convicted in 2008 on narco-terrorism charges.
Mohammed had been flown by officials from the US to Doha. Qatar facilitated the trade by hosting several rounds of US negotiations with the Taliban and also provided logistical support to the operations to get the two American men out of Kabul, according to multiple people familiar with the details of the swap.
The outgoing administration’s plan for the trade with the Taliban was communicated to Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz by Biden’s adviser Jake Sullivan.
“They are on board with this deal,” the Biden official said. “They have acknowledged it, and they have not objected.”
A senior Trump administration official pushed back on their approval of the swap.
“While we would not do the deal that the Biden administration did at the end, we are always happy to have two Americans home,” the Trump official said.
Biden’s envoy for hostage affairs, Ambassador Roger Carstens, had been dispatched to Doha along with Mohammed, a person familiar with the trade said. Carstens’ time in government was also supposed to end when Trump came into office, but he was already on the move during Monday’s presidential transfer of power. A senior Biden administration official declined to say exactly where Mohammed would be handed over to the Taliban and the Americans would be picked up.
On top of the bad weather delaying things, one person briefed on the trade said the Taliban preferred to let Trump take the win for the deal.
“They [the Taliban] didn’t want the news to die during the inauguration and they want the Trump administration to have the credit,” the source said.
Carstens has been helping lead efforts to get at least four Americans released by the Taliban and recently met representatives in Doha with a new offer. Publicly US officials had discussed freeing Corbett and two others, George Glezmann and Mahmoud Habibi. All three were detained in 2022.
Little is known about McKenty and what he was doing in Afghanistan. The Biden White House declined to offer any details, saying only that his case was known to them and his family has previously asked for privacy around his case.
“We are profoundly appreciative of the skill, care, and determination demonstrated by all involved,” McKenty’s family said in a statement thanking US and Qatari government officials. “This has been an extremely challenging time for our family, and we are relieved to finally have Bill back where he belongs.”
“The Taliban has rejected everything every single time,” said a senior Biden administration official who discussed the negotiations on condition of anonymity, adding that they had “put on the table several significant offers.”
“In [Biden’s] waning days there’s been a real push, as there always is, to try to figure out if we can make progress on those who remain, who remain top of mind for the president and the administration, even as he is walking out the door,” the official said, while acknowledging that the next Trump administration likely put added pressure on the Taliban.
“The incoming administration has made several public statements about their expectation that Americans be freed from Afghanistan and that there would be consequences if that were not the case,” the official said. “I think the Taliban’s decision to act now with respect to Ryan [Corbett] is in part motivated by that.”
Corbett and McKenty are expected to land around midday in the US, but their destination is unclear. In the past, Americans held abroad have been taken to the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, which has a specialized program for reintegration.
The release early Tuesday is the result of two years of negotiations and multiple trips to Doha by White House and State Department officials to meet with Taliban representatives, a Biden National Security Council spokesperson said. The CIA was also involved in the discussions and Tuesday’s operation.
Biden officials expressed disappointment that the two other Americans, Glezmann and Habibi, weren’t handed over but said they couldn’t turn down the offer for at least Corbett and McKenty.
The Taliban has never acknowledged holding Habibi but the US still considers him a hostage.
The agreement with the Taliban appears to have been relatively sudden: earlier this month Corbett’s wife, Anna, told Fox News that she had spoken with Biden and got no indication her husband would be freed before the inauguration.
“What I heard him say is he is not bringing Ryan home,” said Anna Corbett, who also met with Waltz, after traveling to Mar-a-Lago, uninvited, to try to meet with Trump.
There was no deal to speak of at the time, the senior Biden official responded, as they were still working on it “right down to the very end.”
Corbett and her three teenage children were invited to Monday’s inauguration by Trump’s incoming hostage envoy, Adam Boehler. In a statement to CNN, the family thanked members of the Trump and Biden teams as well as the Qatari government.
“It was our hope that Ryan, George and Mahmoud would be returned to their families together, and we cannot imagine the pain that our good fortune will bring them,” the family said. “We recognize the immense privilege of our family’s reunion today, and pledge to keep praying – and fighting – for George and Mahmoud’s swift release.”
The Biden administration had previously considered releasing a Guantanamo Bay prisoner, alleged to have been close to Osama bin Laden, in exchange for Ryan Corbett, Glezmann and Habibi. The prisoner, Muhammad Rahim al Afghani, who has never been charged, was not part of Tuesday’s trade.
Instead, it was Mohammed who was freed in the swap, after being arrested in late 2006 and extradited from Afghanistan to the United States in 2007, according to the Justice Department. The department called Mohammed a “violent jihadist” and said he was a member of the Taliban who tried to kill US soldiers with rockets.
In secretly recorded conversations with an informant, Mohammed said that selling drugs that would be shipped to the United States, including heroin, was a form of jihad: “Whether it is by opium or by shooting, this is our common goal.”
“May God turn all the infidels to dead corpses,” Mohammed said, according to the Justice Department.
He was sentenced to two life sentences in prison in 2008 after being convicted on drug and narco-terrorism charges for distributing heroin and opium in order to provide value to “a person or group that has engaged or is engaging in terrorist activity.”
The Taliban welcomed the prisoner exchange deal, with Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry calling it “a good example of resolving issues through dialogue.”
“The Islamic Emirate views positively those measures taken by the United States that contribute to the normalization and expansion of relations between the two countries,” the Foreign Ministry concluded.
The prisoner exchange is one of the final moves made by an administration whose legacy will in part be defined by the disastrous and deadly US withdrawal in August 2021 from Afghanistan that saw the Taliban come to power. Biden has argued the withdrawal was forced on his administration by Trump who struck a deal in early 2020 with the Taliban to pull all US troops out.
This deal comes in the first days of a tenuous ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza that the US and Qatar were central in mediating. Biden – and Carstens – has seen a string of successes in securing the releases of Americans wrongfully detained abroad, including recently from China and Russia.
Eighty Americans deemed unjustly held around the world were freed under Biden, the White House said.
The Biden administration did not acknowledge the Taliban as the official government of Afghanistan but engaged with the group in Doha to discuss issues like human rights and the detained Americans.
Corbett had lived in Afghanistan for more than a decade prior to the collapse of the Afghan government with his wife and their three children, doing non-governmental organization work. During the Taliban takeover in August 2021 the family was evacuated.
Corbett returned in January 2022 to Afghanistan to see if he could renew his business visa and to check on his business. He was greeted by the Taliban-run government with effusive praise for his business, according to Anna Corbett. So, Ryan Corbett returned in August 2022 for what was supposed to be a 10-day trip, with no indication that he was in any danger.
Roughly one week into his visit, he was asked to come in for questioning by the local police. It was then that he and a German colleague, and two local staff members were all detained. All but Corbett had been subsequently released.
The Biden White House said Corbett was never charged with a crime.
“Once the copy of his passport went down to Kabul, that that’s where they saw that they had somebody with the blue passport that they might be able to use politically,” Anna Corbett previously told CNN.
“His health is declining. His mental health is declining. And he is still alive, but we don’t know how long and we need to bring him back home immediately,” she said at the time.
The families of other detained Americans in Afghanistan have long been pressing the US government to do more to secure the release of their loved ones.
In a letter to Biden in July, Aleksandra Glezmann wrote that her husband’s “health is failing,” that he had a benign tumor on one side of his face, was losing vision in one eye and had developed sores and ulcers on his body.
“We urge the Taliban to immediately release both George and Mahmood,” Biden said in a statement shared with CNN before he left office. “We also urge the next Administration to continue our efforts to deter hostage-taking and wrongful detentions and to bring all unjustly detained Americans home.”
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Masoud Popalzai, Lucas Lilieholm, Jennifer Hansler and Jack Forrest contributed to this report.
In a shocking turn of events, the final deal to release two Americans held in Afghanistan in exchange for a Taliban prisoner was delayed until the last days of the Trump administration, despite negotiations being initiated under the Biden administration.The two Americans, Mark Frerichs and Kevin King, had been held captive by the Taliban for years, with their families desperately pleading for their release. Talks to secure their freedom were ongoing under the Biden administration, but it was not until the final days of Trump’s presidency that a deal was finally reached.
The prisoner being exchanged for the two Americans was a high-ranking Taliban member, sparking controversy and criticism from some who questioned the wisdom of releasing such a dangerous individual. However, the families of Frerichs and King were overjoyed at the news of their loved ones’ impending release.
The delay in finalizing the deal until the Trump administration took office has raised eyebrows and led to speculation about the reasons behind the timing. Some have suggested that political considerations may have played a role in the delay, while others have praised the efforts of both administrations to secure the release of the two Americans.
Regardless of the circumstances, the imminent release of Mark Frerichs and Kevin King is a cause for celebration and a testament to the tireless efforts of all involved in securing their freedom.
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- US government negotiations
#Americans #held #Afghanistan #traded #Taliban #prisoner #final #Biden #deal #delayed #Trump #office
US trades Taliban prisoner for American detainees Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty
Anna CorbettRyan Corbett pictured with his wife Anna in an undated photo Two Americans held by the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been exchanged for an Afghan imprisoned in the US on drug trafficking and terrorism charges.
The news emerged after Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty were freed. The Afghan, Khan Mohmmad, had been serving a life sentence in a federal prison in California on drug trafficking and terrorism charges.
A statement from the Taliban government in Kabul announced the agreement, which was concluded just before President Joe Biden ended his term in office.
Mr Corbett’s release was confirmed by his family. US media, quoting official sources, identified Mr McKenty as the second American.
The deal – reportedly the culmination of two years of negotiations – was done just before Joe Biden handed over power to Donald Trump on Monday.
“An Afghan fighter Khan Mohammed imprisoned in America has been released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country,” the Taliban foreign ministry said in a statement.
The family of Ryan Corbett thanked both administrations as well as Qatar for what they described as its vital role.
“Today, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him back home after what has been the most challenging and uncertain 894 days of our lives,” the family said.
Mr Corbett had lived in Afghanistan for many years with his family and was detained by the Taliban more than two years ago when he returned on a business trip.
There are few details about Mr McKenty, whose family have asked for privacy.
AFPKhan Mohammad spoke to the media on his return to Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday Khan Mohammad was a member of the Taliban taken captive in Afghanistan during the US’s military engagement. He was jailed in 2008. Joe Biden commuted his sentence just before he left office.
The Taliban called the exchange the result of “long and fruitful negotiations” with the US and “a good example of resolving issues through dialogue”.
“The Islamic Emirate looks positively at the actions of the United States of America that help the normalisation and development of relations between the two countries,” it said.
Since the Taliban took power in 2021, they have not been formally recognised by any government.
While the move is not likely to change relations between Kabul and Washington, more negotiations may follow – two other Americans are still in Afghanistan, believed to be George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi.
The Taliban are also seeking the release of an Afghan who is one of the few remaining prisoners at the US’s Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
At a rally in Washington on the eve of his inauguration, President Trump threatened to cut humanitarian aid to Afghanistan unless the Taliban returned the military equipment seized after the US pulled out in 2021.
A US Department of Defense report in 2022 estimated that military equipment worth $7bn had been left behind in Afghanistan after US forces withdrew.
In a groundbreaking move, the US government has successfully negotiated the release of American detainees Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty in exchange for a Taliban prisoner. This historic prisoner swap marks a significant step towards securing the safe return of American citizens held captive abroad.Corbett and McKenty, who were captured by Taliban forces while working in Afghanistan, have been held captive for over a year. The US government has been tirelessly working to secure their release, and this swap represents a major breakthrough in their efforts.
The details of the exchange remain confidential, but the successful outcome is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all those involved in the negotiations. The safe return of Corbett and McKenty is a cause for celebration, and a reminder of the unwavering commitment of the US government to protect and secure the release of its citizens.
As we welcome Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty back home, we must also remember the sacrifices made by all those involved in securing their release. This exchange serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of diplomacy and negotiation in resolving complex international conflicts. We must continue to work towards peaceful solutions that prioritize the safety and well-being of all individuals involved.
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Afghan Taliban forces target ‘several points’ in Pakistan in retaliation for airstrikes, Afghan defense ministry says
Kabul, Afghanistan
Reuters
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Afghan Taliban forces targeted “several points” in neighboring Pakistan, Afghanistan’s defense ministry said on Saturday, days after Pakistani aircraft carried out aerial bombardment inside Afghanistan.
The statement from the Defense Ministry did not specify Pakistan but said the strikes were conducted “beyond the ‘hypothetical line’” – an expression used by Afghan authorities to refer to a border with Pakistan that they have long disputed.
“Several points beyond the hypothetical line, serving as centers and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organized and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan, were targeted in retaliation from the southeastern direction of the country,” the ministry said.
Asked whether the statement referred to Pakistan, ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khowarazmi said: “We do not consider it to be the territory of Pakistan, therefore, we cannot confirm the territory, but it was on the other side of the hypothetical line.”
Afghanistan has for decades rejected the border, known as the Durand Line, drawn by British colonial authorities in the 19th century through the mountainous and often lawless tribal belt between what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan.
No details of casualties or specific areas targeted were provided. The Pakistani military’s public relations wing and a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Afghan authorities warned on Wednesday they would retaliate after the Pakistani bombardment, which they said had killed civilians. Islamabad said it had targeted hideouts of Islamist militants along the border.
The neighbors have a strained relationship, with Pakistan saying that several militant attacks that have occurred in its country have been launched from Afghan soil – a charge the Afghan Taliban denies.
The Afghan Taliban forces have reportedly targeted ‘several points’ in Pakistan in retaliation for recent airstrikes conducted by Pakistani forces, according to the Afghan defense ministry.The ministry stated that the Taliban forces launched attacks on multiple locations in Pakistan as a response to the airstrikes that targeted their positions in Afghanistan. The exact locations and extent of the attacks have not been disclosed yet.
Tensions between the two countries have been escalating in recent months, with both sides accusing each other of supporting militant groups and conducting cross-border attacks. The Afghan Taliban’s retaliation marks a significant escalation in the conflict between the two neighboring nations.
The situation is still developing, and further details are awaited. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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