A US citizen and his green card brother were released by the Taliban this week after being held captive for more than three months, the State Department said on Friday.
Safiullah Rauf and Anees Khalil were put on a plane to Qatar where they await transport to the US, State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
“We are grateful for the efforts of all those who worked to secure her release, but much remains to be done,” Price said. “It is always unacceptable to hold Americans unjustly captive, and we will not stop until every American who is unjustly being held against their will can once again embrace their families.”
The brothers have been held in Afghanistan since December 18. The State Department was working to negotiate their release after “it became clear that they would not be allowed to leave the country,” a ministry official said.
Rauf (left) and his brother Anees Khalil (right) have been held by the Taliban since December 18, 2021. Courtesy of Sammi Cannold
Both Rauf, an American citizen and member of the US Naval Reserve, and Khalil are former Afghan refugees.Facebook/Safi Rauf
“While I cannot go into the details, I can say that this was a multi-agency team that conceived, planned and executed this important mission to bring home an American citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States,” he said Officer.
During the negotiations, US officials also pushed for the release of Navy veteran Mark Frerichs, who has been imprisoned since January 2020.
“We will never, anywhere, at any time, relax in our efforts to bring home Americans who are unjustly detained – whether in Venezuela, Russia, Afghanistan, Syria, China, Iran or elsewhere,” the official added.
Both Rauf, an American citizen and member of the US Naval Reserve, and Khalil are former Afghan refugees. They formed the Human First Coalition, a voluntary nonprofit organization that campaigned for the evacuation of Afghans trying to flee the country after the Taliban takeover last fall.
In October, Human First helped secure the release of an Afghan interpreter who helped rescue then-Sen. Joe Biden, who was stranded in a valley in 2008.
In a statement Rauf called he and his brother were arrested due to a “misunderstanding” while they were doing “humanitarian work”.
Taliban fighters patrol a street during a demonstration in January 2022. AFP via Getty Images
The Taliban hoisted the largest flag in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Kabul yesterday, EPA
He revealed they were released due to efforts by the US government, specifically Political Officer JP Feldmayer, Special Envoy Tom West and Lt. Col. Jason Hock.
“Anees and I would like to thank everyone who worked tirelessly to secure our release, as well as everyone who supported the humanitarian efforts of our Human First Coalition,” Rauf said.
“At this time we look forward to reuniting with our family and loved ones and I hope that ultimately we can continue to commit ourselves and seek ways to serve the Afghan people at this critical time of need in Afghanistan.”
I dreamed endlessly about this moment for 105 days. On December 18, 2021, the unthinkable happened. My extraordinary friend @saf_rauf– who is a development worker, a humanitarian and the best person I know – was kidnapped by the Taliban and then held by them in Afghanistan
— Sammi Cannold (@sammicannold) April 1, 2022
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in late August amid a chaotic US military withdrawal that drew criticism from lawmakers from both parties.
The Biden administration has been criticized for leaving hundreds of Americans and thousands of Afghan allies stranded in the war-torn country after withdrawing all US troops.
In January, reports revealed that around 80 US citizens were still in Afghanistan planning to leave the country.