US Officials Meet Taliban in Kabul Over American Detainees

U.S. officials, including special envoy Adam Boehler and former special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, met with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul to discuss the detention of American citizens in Afghanistan, with a focus on Mahmood Habibi, a naturalized U.S. citizen whom Washington says is held by the Taliban, though they deny his detention. The talks are part of ongoing efforts under the Trump administration to resolve issues related to citizens imprisoned in both countries and to improve bilateral relations despite significant challenges. Previous engagements, including a March 2025 visit, resulted in the release of a U.S. citizen held for over two years, signaling potential for humanitarian gestures and goodwill. Both sides have exchanged detainee lists, yet discrepancies persist, complicating progress and hindering broader diplomatic and economic collaboration. The Taliban has also sought the release of Muhammad Rahim, the last Afghan held at Guantanamo Bay, highlighting reciprocal demands in prisoner negotiations. No immediate statements were made by the U.S. following the talks, reflecting the sensitive and unresolved nature of these discussions.