Afghanistan: Taliban release two detained American nationals in 'goodwill gesture'

The US State Department announced that Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers released two American nationals that were detained. The release, however, came on the same day the insurgent group moved to ban women from attending university.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the insurgent group freed two Americans who were detained in Afghanistan. Price told reporters that the release was a gesture of goodwill as no prisoner exchange was taking place or money was being exchanged.

Diplomats familiar with the matter told the Washington Post that the two Americans arrived in Qatar, and their identities were not disclosed to the public.

Price told reporters during the news conference that Washington was continuing to reiterate the need to release Americans that are still detained in Afghanistan but did not specify how many were still detained and who they were.

“We are in a position to welcome the release of two American nationals from detention in Afghanistan. We are providing these to US nationals with all appropriate assistance. They will soon be reunited with their loved ones,” said Price.

Price noted that the release was ironic considering the condemnation the insurgent group now faces after it started banning female students from attending universities on the same day. Price said, “it is a question for the Taliban themselves regarding the timing of this.”

The Taliban-backed ministry of higher education in Afghanistan said that female students will not be allowed to attend universities until further notice, another sign of increasingly restrictive policies against women and girls in the country.

US and UK envoys condemned the move by the insurgent group during a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York discussing Afghanistan.

“The Taliban cannot expect to be a legitimate member of the international community until they respect the rights of all Afghans, especially the human rights and fundamental freedom of women and girls,” said US deputy ambassador to the UN Robert Wood.

The Taliban has since defended the move, saying that it was to preserve “national interest” and to protect the “honor” of women. Several Taliban officials also claimed that the ban was temporary.