BBC: Mark Frerichs: US hostage swapped for Afghan leader linked to Taliban
The Taliban have released a US engineer they had held hostage since 2020 in exchange for an Afghan tribal leader held in US custody since 2005.
Mark Frerichs was handed over at Kabul airport on Monday, the Taliban said. In return they received Bashir Noorzai, a Taliban ally serving a life sentence for drug trafficking.
US President Joe Biden said that the swap required "difficult decisions" that he did not take lightly.
Mr Frerichs, 60, was abducted by the Taliban the year before the group swept back to power in Afghanistan and its Western-backed government collapsed.
He had been living and working in Kabul as a civil engineer for 10 years.
Mr Frerich's sister, Charlene Cakora, said the family had never given up hope of getting him back.
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U.S. And Afghan Taliban Conduct A Prisoner Swap
American hostage freed by Taliban in prisoner swap for Afghan leader -- The Hill
Taliban release U.S. engineer Frerichs as Biden approves swap for drug smuggler -- Reuters
Taliban frees last American prisoner in Afghanistan in prisoner swap with the US -- FOX News
American held captive in Afghanistan for more than 2 years is released in prisoner swap -- CNN
Biden swaps Taliban drug lord for US contractor held in Afghanistan -- NYPost
Taliban release American Mark Frerichs in prisoner swap -- Axios
Taliban releases US navy veteran in prisoner swap -- Al Jazeera
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