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The Taliban has released another American citizen who was detained in Afghanistan, marking the latest in a series of releases as the group seeks to improve diplomatic ties with the United States.

Some shit you should know before you read: Over the last few months, there’s been a noticeable shift in US-Taliban relations, as multiple American citizens deemed wrongfully detained in Afghanistan have been released through backchannel negotiations. These prisoner releases have been brokered by Qatar, which continues to act as a key intermediary between the two sides. At the same time, the US has removed multimillion-dollar bounties on three senior members of the Haqqani network, a powerful faction within the Taliban leadership, signaling a possible change in American policy.  

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What’s going on now: In an announcement made on Saturday, former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad confirmed that Faye Hall, an American citizen, had been released by the Taliban and was now in the care of Qatari officials in Kabul. Hall, who had been detained in February, was traveling with a British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, and their Afghan interpreter when she was arrested in Bamyan province. According to reports, Hall was accused of using a drone without authorization, a charge that led to her detention by Taliban authorities.

While the Taliban has shared limited details regarding the specific charges or the circumstances of her release, a spokesman for the group confirmed that she had been handed over to negotiators who had brokered a deal with the head of the Taliban.

Hall’s release has drawn political attention in the United States, especially after she appeared in a video posted by President Donald Trump on his social media. In the video, Hall expressed gratitude toward Trump, stating that she had voted for him twice and was proud to be an American under his leadership, calling his presidency “the new era.”

The Taliban has framed recent detainee releases, including Hall’s, as part of its broader goodwill efforts to engage the international community.

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