Faye Hall, an American citizen detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for two months, has been released and is now in the care of Qatari officials, according to former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad.
Hall was arrested in February alongside British nationals Barbie and Peter Reynolds, both in their seventies, while traveling in Bamyan province. The trio had been involved in educational initiatives for women and girls, choosing to remain in Afghanistan even after the Taliban regained power in 2021.
While Afghan authorities have not disclosed the reasons for the arrests, Hall’s release follows Qatar’s ongoing mediation efforts—a key diplomatic channel between the Taliban and the United States.
“Faye Hall will soon be heading home,” Khalilzad shared via X (formerly Twitter), thanking Qatar for its role.
This marks the fourth release of an American citizen by the Taliban since January, part of a broader diplomatic thaw that recently saw U.S. officials visit Kabul for the highest-level talks since Donald Trump’s administration.
Just days before Hall’s release, George Glezmann, an American aviation mechanic held for two years, was also freed. Taliban authorities described it as a “humanitarian gesture.”
British Couple Still Detained
While Hall’s release offers hope, Barbie and Peter Reynolds remain in Taliban custody, raising concerns about their health and safety. The couple, married since 1970, has a long-standing legacy of humanitarian work in Afghanistan.
Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, has made a public plea, revealing that her 79-year-old father suffers from multiple health issues, including chest and eye infections, and alleges he has been physically abused in custody.
“Our desperate appeal to the Taliban is to release them and let them access the medication he needs to survive,” Entwistle told The Sunday Times.
Hall was reportedly arrested while accompanying the Reynolds back to their home. Her presence with the couple may have played a role in her detention.
US-Taliban Relations Remain Tense
Despite Hall’s release, the broader relationship between Washington and the Taliban remains fraught. The chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021—following a withdrawal agreement negotiated by Trump—led to the rapid collapse of the Western-backed government and left a political vacuum that the Taliban quickly filled.
The Biden administration has yet to outline a clear path forward on Afghanistan, particularly regarding detainees, humanitarian aid, and human rights concerns under Taliban rule.
For now, Qatar continues to play a pivotal diplomatic role, helping secure humanitarian gestures and serving as a crucial bridge between the U.S. and Afghanistan’s new rulers.
