Afghanistan Times
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KABUL — In a major diplomatic development, the United States has secured the release of three American prisoners from Taliban custody following a high-level U.S. delegation’s visit to Kabul — a move signaling a potential shift in Washington’s strategy toward the Afghan regime.
The quiet but unprecedented mission was led by former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and White House special envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler. The trip, shrouded in secrecy, marks the most direct U.S.-Taliban engagement since the fall of Kabul in 2021 and suggests Washington is now willing to explore targeted cooperation with the Taliban government despite its lack of international recognition.
The release of the Americans is being seen as a breakthrough — not only for those freed but also as a test case for whether limited engagement with the Taliban can serve broader U.S. security and humanitarian goals. In a striking move, the U.S. has also quietly withdrawn multimillion-dollar bounties placed on some senior Taliban leaders still officially designated as terrorists.
“There is a path that’s positive, and if they walk that path, we walk that path,” a senior U.S. official told CNN, indicating a conditional openness to further diplomatic dealings.
Successive U.S. administrations have rejected formal recognition of the Taliban government, citing its repressive policies, links to terrorism, and failure to uphold human rights — especially for women and minorities. Yet the latest developments suggest a new, more pragmatic strategy may be emerging: one that prioritizes American lives and long-term security interests over strict diplomatic isolation.
The Cipher Brief, which first reported the story, called the Kabul visit a “pivotal moment” that may redefine U.S. posture in Afghanistan.
Whether this engagement opens the door to broader dialogue or remains a one-off hostage recovery effort, analysts say the U.S. may be recalibrating how it deals with the Taliban — not through recognition, but through realpolitik.
