The Taliban government in Afghanistan released Dennis Coyle, a U.S. national, after detaining him for over a year. Coyle's release followed a letter from his family requesting his freedom and pardon for Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday. The foreign ministry stated it agreed to the release after the family's letter.
Dennis Walter Coyle, a 64-year-old researcher and linguist from Colorado, had been held since January 2025. The Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence took Coyle by force from his Kabul apartment. Afghan authorities accused Coyle of violating laws, but never specified which ones. His family said Coyle was held in near-solitary confinement with no charges filed.
The United Arab Emirates facilitated Coyle's release, which the Afghan foreign ministry described as a gesture of "goodwill." Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and the UAE ambassador to Kabul Saif Mohammed Al-Ketbi before the release. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed Coyle's release, noting that President Trump is committed to ending unjust detentions overseas. Coyle appeared relieved at a news conference at Kabul airport alongside Khalilzad.
Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department designated Afghanistan as a sponsor of wrongful detention, accusing it of engaging in hostage diplomacy. Afghanistan rejects this allegation, with Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stating that Afghan authorities arrest people for violating laws, not to make deals. The U.S. government officially designated Coyle as wrongfully detained last June under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. The designation unlocks government tools and elevates the priority of efforts to secure his release.
American Paul Overby disappeared in eastern Afghanistan's Khost province in mid-2014 while conducting research for a book he was writing. The FBI's missing persons website lists Overby as missing. The Taliban have also not acknowledged the case of Afghan-American Mahmoud Habibi, who was abducted in 2022. The State Department has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Habibi's return.
Coyle's family expressed "overwhelming gratitude" for his release, describing the detention as "the most challenging and uncertain 421 days of our lives." They thanked President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and leaders in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for their assistance. Ahmad Habibi, Mahmoud Habibi's brother, welcomed Coyle's release and expressed hope for his brother's return. Coyle's family pledged to keep praying and fighting for all Americans held to be swiftly released.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan released Dennis Coyle, a U.S. national, on Tuesday after detaining him for over a year. Coyle's release followed a letter from his family requesting his freedom and pardon for Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday. The foreign ministry stated it agreed to the release after the family's letter.
Dennis Walter Coyle, a 64-year-old researcher and linguist from Colorado, had been held since January 2025. The Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence took Coyle by force from his Kabul apartment. Afghan authorities accused Coyle of violating laws, but never specified which ones. His family said Coyle was held in near-solitary confinement with no charges filed.
The United Arab Emirates facilitated Coyle's release, which the Afghan foreign ministry described as a gesture of "goodwill." Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and the UAE ambassador to Kabul Saif Mohammed Al-Ketbi before the release. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed Coyle's release, noting that President Trump is committed to ending unjust detentions overseas. Coyle appeared relieved at a news conference at Kabul airport alongside Khalilzad.
Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department designated Afghanistan as a sponsor of wrongful detention. The U.S. government officially designated Coyle as wrongfully detained last June under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. The designation unlocks government tools and elevates the priority of efforts to secure his release. The U.S. has accused Afghanistan of engaging in "hostage diplomacy," a charge Afghanistan rejects.
The Taliban continue to hold the remains of American Paul Overby. The FBI's missing persons website lists Overby as having disappeared in eastern Afghanistan's Khost province in mid-2014. The Taliban have also not acknowledged the case of Afghan-American Mahmoud Habibi, who was abducted in 2022. The State Department has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Habibi's return.
Coyle's family expressed "overwhelming gratitude" for his release after "the most challenging and uncertain 421 days of our lives." They thanked President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and leaders in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for their assistance. Ahmad Habibi, Mahmoud Habibi's brother, welcomed Coyle's release and expressed hope for his brother's return. Coyle's family pledged to keep praying and fighting for all Americans held to be swiftly released.
The Biden administration held negotiations with the Taliban to swap Americans detained in Afghanistan for Muhammad Rahim al Afghani, a Guantanamo Bay detainee. The talks ultimately fell through. A Taliban official said Rahim "should have been freed by now, but unfortunately the American side have not acted on their earlier promises and commitments yet."
Coyle's capture and release highlight the risks faced by Americans in Afghanistan, even those with long-standing ties to local communities, and the ongoing efforts to secure the freedom of other detained citizens.
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The sources also report that Coyle's family described his detention as lasting 421 days.