American woman detained in Afghanistan released by Taliban, source says
An American woman, Faye Hall, has been released by the Taliban in Afghanistan after being detained earlier this year along with two British nationals and their Afghan translator. The news of her release was confirmed by Zalmay Khalilzad, a former U.S. envoy to Kabul, who stated that Hall is now in the care of Qatari officials in Kabul and will soon be on her way home.
Hall, along with Peter and Barbie Reynolds, were detained in February while traveling to the Reynolds’ home in central Bamiyan province. While Hall has been freed, the Reynolds remain in Taliban custody. Sources revealed that Hall was detained on charges of using a drone without authorization.
The release of Faye Hall was part of a deal brokered by Qatari negotiators, and she is reported to be in good health after undergoing medical checks. Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban’s ambassador in Qatar, described Hall’s release as a “goodwill gesture” aimed at fostering positive relations with the U.S. and other countries.
The Reynolds, who have been running school training programs in Afghanistan for 18 years, are parents to two American citizens. Their daughter has expressed concerns about her father’s health and appealed for their release. The Reynolds chose to remain in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021 when the British embassy withdrew its staff.
Khalilzad had recently visited Afghanistan along with U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler to meet with Taliban authorities, leading to the release of another American citizen, George Glezmann, who had been wrongfully detained by the Taliban.
In addition to Hall and Glezmann, two other Americans, Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, were released in January in exchange for a Taliban figure imprisoned in California. However, Mahmood Habibi, a dual American and Afghan citizen, remains detained in Afghanistan since 2022.
The FBI has been seeking information on Habibi’s disappearance, believing that he was taken by Taliban forces and has not been heard from since. The Taliban have denied holding Habibi in custody.
The government in Kabul, although not recognized by any country, has expressed hopes for improved relations with Washington. The release of Americans detained by the Taliban signifies a potential thaw in relations between the two parties.
