Ryan Corbett, a New York dad, freed by Taliban in prisoner exchange with U.S.

After more than two years, the Taliban have released a man from Upstate New York.

In a prisoner swap between the United States and the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul, Ryan Corbett, a U.S. citizen from the Livingston County village of Dansville, was one of two Americans freed, according to his family on Tuesday. After being arrested on a business trip in August 2022, Corbett had been held hostage since he was living in Afghanistan with his family when the United States withdrew from the country in 2021.

According to Corbett’s family, “After what has been the most difficult and uncertain 894 days of our lives, we are incredibly grateful and praise God for keeping Ryan alive and bringing him home.”

The family expressed gratitude to Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump, other U.S. government representatives, and the Middle Eastern country of Qatar for their contributions to achieving Corbett’s release.

WHAMreports In 2010, Corbett initially relocated to Afghanistan to work for nongovernmental organizations before establishing his own company there. According to WROC, his family left Afghanistan safely in 2021, but he kept going back to pay his staff and renew his visa.

The Associated Press reports that officials said Tuesday that Corbett and another American were freed in return for Khan Mohammed, a Taliban leader who had been sentenced to life in jail in California on accusations of terrorism and drug trafficking. Mohammed was described by the Justice Department in 2008 as a violent Islamist and drug trafficker who attempted to use rockets to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan.

The New York Times and CNN reported that William McKenty was the second American to be freed. There were no other McKenty details available at the time.

Although the majority of nations still do not recognize the Taliban’s government, the AP says the Taliban referred to the agreement, which was struck Monday, as a step toward normalizing U.S.-Afghan relations. The agreement to release Corbett, George Glezmann, and Mahmood Habibi in return for Muhammad Rahim, one of the remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay, had been negotiated by Biden’s administration prior to his departure.

Corbett’s family stated, “We are mindful of the numerous families who are still waiting for their loved ones to return, including the families of George Glezmann and Mahmoud Habibi, as we start the healing process with Ryan by our side.” We hoped Ryan, George, and Mahmoud would all be reunited with their families, and we can’t even begin to understand the suffering our good fortune will cause them. We acknowledge the great honor of our family’s reunion today and promise to continue praying and advocating for George and Mahmoud’s prompt release.