{"id":2583265,"date":"2026-03-24T11:14:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taliban-releases-american-held-captive-for-over-a-year-to-ease-tensions-with-us\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T11:16:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T15:16:20","slug":"taliban-releases-american-held-captive-for-over-a-year-to-ease-tensions-with-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taliban-releases-american-held-captive-for-over-a-year-to-ease-tensions-with-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Taliban releases American held captive for over a year to ease tensions with US"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftaliban-releases-american-held-captive-for-over-a-year-to-ease-tensions-with-us%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2583265&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Taliban releases American researcher Dennis Coyle after more than a year in captivity in Afghanistan. The taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada personally ordered Coyle\u2019s release following pressure from Washington and appeals from his family; officials had called his detention arbitrary. Coyle, 64, had been in Afghanistan for about 20 years studying languages before his 14-month detention, and his release was celebrated by U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Marco Rubio, who credited the UAE and Qatar for helping secure his freedom. rubio also designated Afghanistan a State Sponsor of Wrongful detention, a move tied to ongoing U.S. pressure over detentions; he urged the Taliban to release two remaining Americans held in the country. Coyle appeared at Kabul International Airport upon release, where family members said he had been kept in solitary confinement and faced no charges. The United States continues to seek the whereabouts of two other missing Americans, mahmood Shah Habibi and Paul Edwin overby Jr., as it presses the Taliban and its allies to end <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lifting-sanctions-may-help-russians-supply-spy-satellites-to-iran\/\" title=\"Lifting Sanctions May Help Russians Supply Spy Satellites to Iran\">hostage diplomacy<\/a> amid afghanistan\u2019s broader humanitarian and security crises.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Taliban releases American held captive for over a year to ease tensions with US<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2443152\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/taliban\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"605\">Taliban<\/a> government of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/afghanistan\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"337\">Afghanistan<\/a> released American researcher Dennis Walter Coyle, 64, on Tuesday, ending a 14-month detention.<\/p>\n<p>The leader of Afghanistan, Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada, personally ordered Coyle&rsquo;s release after a period of increasing pressure from Washington and appeals from his family. He had been studying languages in the country for the previous 20 years when the Taliban detained him, which his family and Washington argued was arbitrary. Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"51\">Marco Rubio<\/a> confirmed and celebrated his release.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4501297\/watch-live-melania-trump-opening-remarks-global-summit-state-department\/\">WATCH LIVE: Melania Trump delivers opening remarks for State Department summit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4501233\/lebanon-withdraws-iranian-ambassador-designation-gives-days-to-leave\/\">Lebanon withdraws Iranian ambassador&#8217;s designation and gives him days to leave<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4501217\/iranian-linked-terrorist-group-responsibility-antisemitic-arson-attack-belgium\/\">Iranian-linked terrorist group claims responsibility for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >antisemitic arson attack<\/a> in Belgium<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Today, after more than a year of captivity in Afghanistan, Dennis Coyle is on his way home,&rdquo; Rubio said. &ldquo;President Trump is committed to ending unjust detentions overseas &mdash; Dennis joins over 100 Americans who have been freed in the past 15 months under his second term in office.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Rubio thanked the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for helping with Coyle&rsquo;s release and their &ldquo;continued support and advocacy for Americans unjustly detained in Afghanistan.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;While this is a positive step by the Taliban, more work needs to be done,&rdquo; Rubio added, asking about the whereabouts of two other Americans. &ldquo;The Taliban must end their practice of hostage diplomacy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The release came just weeks after Rubio made Afghanistan the second country to be <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4486115\/rubio-afghanistan-state-sponsor-of-wrongful-detention\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4486115\/rubio-afghanistan-state-sponsor-of-wrongful-detention\/\">designated as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-this-average-american-is-voting-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"Why This Average American Is Voting for Donald Trump\">state sponsor<\/a> of wrongful detention<\/a>, a new blacklist created by an executive order from President&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>&nbsp;in September 2025. Coyle was specifically mentioned in the March 9 announcement.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Today, I am&nbsp;designating&nbsp;Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention,&rdquo; Rubio said. &ldquo;The Taliban continue to use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/debunking-the-four-biggest-lies-youve-been-told-about-israel\/\" title=\"Debunking The Four Biggest Lies You\u2019ve Been Told About Israel\">terrorist tactics<\/a> to seek policy concessions, but it&nbsp;won&rsquo;t&nbsp;work under this administration. The Taliban must release Dennis Coyle, Mahmood Habibi, and all Americans unjustly detained in Afghanistan.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Coyle was brought out in front of the cameras at Kabul International Airport on Tuesday at a press conference, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TOLONewsEnglish\/status\/2036422575686033542?s=20\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TOLONewsEnglish\/status\/2036422575686033542?s=20\">appearing<\/a> in relatively good condition. His family said he had been kept in solitary conditions since his arrest, despite not being charged with a crime.<\/p>\n<p>His release was facilitated by the UAE, Abu Dhabi&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-admin-officials-resign-following-protest-at-capitol-building-which-left-4-people-dead\/\" title=\"Trump admin. officials resign following protest at Capitol Building, which left 4 people dead\">special envoy<\/a> Saif Al Ketbi said. He said Coyle&rsquo;s release came at the request of another party, but declined to divulge who, the <em>New York Times<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n<p>Adam Boehler, Trump&rsquo;s special envoy for hostage response, had grown increasingly belligerent with the Taliban government, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/aboehler\/status\/2031148515334721582\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/aboehler\/status\/2031148515334721582\">threatening<\/a> its leaders that they could see a repeat of the raid that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro or the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader.<\/p>\n<p>With Coyle&rsquo;s release, the United States is now only looking for the whereabouts of two U.S. citizens: Mahmood Shah Habibi, a U.S.-Afghan citizen who disappeared in 2022, and Massachusetts author Paul Edwin Overby Jr., who was last seen in 2014 in Khost while researching a book. Habibi&rsquo;s family celebrated Coyle&rsquo;s release but urged further action to secure their loved one&rsquo;s release as well.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;My family and I are grateful to hear the news of Dennis&rsquo; release,&rdquo; Ahmad Habibi, Mahmood Habibi&rsquo;s brother, said in a statement. &ldquo;We hope that our family will soon have the same feeling of relief, when Mahmood is returned home to us. The US Government has overwhelming evidence that the Taliban&rsquo;s General Directorate of Intelligence arrested my brother. Taliban denials of this obvious fact make it impossible for the people of Afghanistan to get the foreign assistance they need.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4486115\/rubio-afghanistan-state-sponsor-of-wrongful-detention\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4486115\">RUBIO DESIGNATES AFGHANISTAN STATE SPONSOR OF WRONGFUL DETENTION OVER US DETAINMENTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration has taken a hard-line stance against Afghanistan, pushing against the further supply of desperately needed aid unless the Taliban government institutes reforms. The country has faced a humanitarian disaster since the Taliban retook control in August 2021, with international isolation and mismanagement rife. Roughly one-third of the population, 17 million people, face acute food shortages, according to the United Nations World Food Programme.<\/p>\n<p>Kabul&rsquo;s problems have been worsened by an escalating war with Pakistan, during which the weakened Afghanistan has sustained many more casualties than its neighbor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Taliban frees U.S. captive after 14 mos to ease strain<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2583266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26072483578608.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3817,40705,3764,9085,76447],"class_list":["post-2583265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-diplomacy","tag-hostage-release","tag-taliban","tag-tensions","tag-us-taliban-relations"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26072483578608.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2583265","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2583265"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2583265\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2583269,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2583265\/revisions\/2583269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2583266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2583265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2583265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2583265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}