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The Taliban released on Tuesday 19 November two hostages they captured more than three years ago, one American and the other Australian, in exchange for the release of three high-ranking Taliban.
Kevin King of the United States and Timothy Weekes of Australia were able to leave the province of Zabul in an American helicopter. There was urgency. According to several sources, Kevin King is seriously ill. The two academics were kidnapped on August 7, 2016, while leaving the American University in Kabul.
Their release was allowed by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who pledged to release three Taliban prisoners in exchange for these Western hostages. He announced on October 12 that this " very difficult " decision was the " main condition for starting informal negotiations " to end the conflict that has ravaged the country for 18 years.
The three Taliban leaders - Anas Haqqani, Mali Khan and Hafiz Rashidau Haqqani - were transported to Doha, where the Taliban political bureau is located. These three released prisoners belong to the Haqqani network, an important armed wing of the Taliban rebellion. She is described as "terrorist" by Washington and accused of committing some of the bloodiest attacks in Afghanistan since the US invasion.