The US exchanged a Taliban prisoner for the detained Americans Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McEntee

Two Americans held by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been exchanged for an Afghan jailed in the United States on drug-trafficking and terrorism charges.

The news follows the release of Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McEntee. Afghani Khan Muhammad was serving a life sentence in a federal prison in California on charges of drug trafficking and terrorism.

A statement from the Taliban government in Kabul announced the deal, which was reached just before the end of President Joe Biden’s term.

Mr Corbett’s release was confirmed by his family. The American media, citing official sources, called Mr. McEntee the second American.

The deal — reportedly the culmination of two years of negotiations — was struck just before Joe Biden handed over power to Donald Trump on Monday.

“Afghan militant Khan Mohammed, who is imprisoned in America, was released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country,” the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Ryan Corbett’s family thanked both administrations, as well as Qatar, for what they called his vital role.

“Today our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him home after 894 of the most difficult and uncertain days of our lives,” the family said.

Mr Corbett lived in Afghanistan with his family for many years and was detained by the Taliban more than two years ago when he returned from a tour of duty.

There are few details about Mr McEntee, whose family has asked that they remain private.

Khan Mohammad was a member of the Taliban captured in Afghanistan during the US military battle. He was imprisoned in 2008. Joe Biden commuted his sentence just before leaving office.

The Taliban called the exchange the result of “long and fruitful negotiations” with the United States and “a good example of solving problems through dialogue.”

“The Islamic Emirate looks positively at the actions of the United States of America, which contribute to the normalization and development of relations between the two countries,” the statement said.

Since the Taliban came to power in 2021, they have not been officially recognized by any government.

While the move is unlikely to change the relationship between Kabul and Washington, new talks may take place – two other Americans are still in Afghanistanbelieved to be George Glazeman and Mahmoud Habibi.

The Taliban are also seeking the release of an Afghan man who is one of the few remaining prisoners at the US Guantanamo Bay camp.

At a rally in Washington on the eve of his inauguration, President Trump threatened to cut humanitarian aid to Afghanistan if the Taliban did not return military equipment seized after the US withdrawal from the country in 2021.

USA A report by the Department of Defense estimated military hardware at $7 billion in 2022 in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of American troops.