Afghanistan announces release of US citizen detained for more than one year

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Kabul: Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have released American academic Dennis Coyle after more than a year in detention, with officials saying the move coincided with Eid al-Fitr.

According to Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry, Coyle was freed in Kabul following an appeal from his family and after the country’s Supreme Court deemed his time in custody sufficient.

Coyle had been detained in January 2025, with authorities accusing him of violating local laws, though no specific charges were publicly detailed.

The United States welcomed the development, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it a positive step while urging further action on other detained Americans.

Rubio said the release was part of broader efforts under President Donald Trump’s administration to secure the return of Americans held overseas, noting that more than 100 had been freed in the past 15 months.

However, Washington has recently designated Afghanistan as a state involved in wrongful detentions, accusing it of engaging in “hostage diplomacy”—a claim Kabul denies.

Afghan officials maintain that arrests are made based on legal violations rather than for political leverage.

At least one other American, Mahmood Habibi, remains missing in Afghanistan after disappearing in 2022. U.S. authorities believe he may be in Taliban custody, though Afghan officials deny holding him. Another American, Paul Overby, has been missing since 2014.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said Coyle’s release followed a judicial process and was carried out on humanitarian grounds, expressing hope it would help build trust between countries.

Both U.S. and Afghan officials acknowledged mediation efforts by the United Arab Emirates, with Qatar also playing a role in facilitating the release.

The development comes as Afghanistan continues to navigate complex relations with the international community following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 after the withdrawal of U.S. forces.