Abigail Williams and Mirna Alsharif
The Taliban released two Americans detained in Afghanistan on Tuesday, according to State Department spokesperson Ned Price.
The announcement came as the United Nations Security Council was meeting to discuss Afghanistan.
He described the move as a goodwill gesture rather than part of a prisoner swap.
“We are providing all appropriate assistance to these two US citizens,” Price said.
The unidentified US citizens were flown from Kabul to Doha, Qatar, according to a senior State Department official, and the Qatari government assisted in securing their release.
“We are pleased that these US citizens will be reunited with their families soon,” a senior administration official said. We will not confirm names in order to respect the privacy of these individuals and their families.”
The release coincided with the Taliban’s ban on women attending private and public universities in Afghanistan.
“The irony of them granting us a goodwill gesture on the same day that they undertake a gesture like this to the Afghan people is not lost on us,” Price said.
“The United States strongly condemns the Taliban’s indefensible decision to bar women and girls from universities and secondary schools,” Price said.
Despite outlining a vision for granting Afghan women rights in accordance with Islamic law, the Taliban has failed to deliver on their promises.
