The United States announced on Tuesday the release of two of its nationals detained in Afghanistan, hailing a “goodwill gesture” by the Taliban on the same day that they provoked international condemnation for having prohibited women’s access to the university.
“We understand that this is a goodwill gesture on the part of the Taliban. It is not part of a prisoner or detainee exchange. No money has been exchanged,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price, stating that the two nationals were heading to Doha.
Girls are prohibited from going to university
Qatar has played a key role in serving US interests since the Taliban returned to power after US forces withdrew from Afghanistan. He declined to give details about the two Americans who are taking refuge behind confidentiality rules.
CNN reported that one of them was Ivor Shearer, a director arrested in August along with his Afghan producer while filming the site of a drone strike that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
“It will not have escaped our notice that they made such a goodwill gesture on the very day they made a decision that goes against the Afghan people,” said Ned Price.
Source: BFM TV
