Afghan officials have proposed exchanging two American citizens currently held in Afghanistan for the release of Mohammad Rahim Afghan, the final Afghan national detained at the U.S. facility in Guantanamo Bay.
Kabul 24: A spokesperson for the Afghan government told The New York Times: “We want these two detained Americans released as soon as possible, and simultaneously, the situation of our detainee in Guantanamo must be resolved.
He must be freed.”Sources familiar with the discussions between Kabul and Washington indicate that negotiations for a prisoner exchange have stalled.
A senior U.S. official stated to the newspaper that Mohammad Rahim will not feature in any upcoming agreement, regardless of repeated Afghan requests.
Mohammad Rahim Afghan has been detained at Guantanamo since 2008. U.S. authorities describe him as a former translator and facilitator linked to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.
As the sole remaining Afghan detainee there, he has never faced formal charges or trial. While reports in late September 2025 suggested potential progress toward his release, the matter remains unresolved.
Political commentator Feridullah Zazi observed: “If the United States agrees to this condition, it would signal to the world that the lingering effects of the Afghanistan conflict have concluded.
This could also help shift current limited, technical interactions toward more formal political engagement.”The U.S. has conducted several prisoner exchanges in recent years, including releases of American citizens in return for individuals convicted in the U.S. (such as one linked to drug trafficking and Taliban affiliations).
However, Mohammad Rahim has consistently been excluded from those arrangements.Afghan officials view the proposed swap as a gesture of goodwill that could help normalize relations with Washington. U.S. representatives, meanwhile, prioritize securing the return of their citizens while refusing concessions on detainees still regarded as security risks.
Discussions continue between the parties, but disagreement over Mohammad Rahim Afghan’s status remains the key barrier to reaching an accord. The case highlights ongoing tensions in post-conflict relations, with both sides navigating demands for reciprocity and recognition.
