Taliban Claims Prisoner Swap Agreement Near With US

The Taliban and U.S. officials, including President Trump's special envoy for hostage response Adam Boehler and former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, have reached an agreement to exchange prisoners as part of efforts to normalize bilateral relations. While details about the identities, numbers, and reasons for detention remain undisclosed, the discussions also covered broader issues such as investment opportunities, travel bans, and ongoing diplomatic engagement. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Boehler's visit to Kabul was to explore possibilities for detainee exchanges but emphasized that any final decision rests with President Trump. The talks followed the recent release of several American detainees by the Taliban and occurred amid condolences expressed by the U.S. delegation for a devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan. Both sides committed to continuing dialogue on various bilateral issues, including the status of imprisoned citizens in both countries. The prisoner exchange pact signals a potential turning point in U.S.-Afghan relations after years of strained ties.