Taliban Releases American Citizen Dennis Keill After Supreme Court Review

KABUL (Afghan Verified) -- The Taliban released American citizen Dennis Keill from detention in Kabul on Tuesday, stating that their Supreme Court had reviewed his case and deemed the imprisonment period sufficient.

The Taliban Foreign Ministry announced the release, which followed more than a year of detention for the 64-year-old professor from Colorado. He was arrested at his home in Kabul in January 2025.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the development, describing it as "a positive step towards ending 'hostage diplomacy.'" Rubio said he had met with Keill's family earlier this month and noted that Keill was on his way home. He thanked the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for their roles in facilitating the release.

The U.S. State Department stated that President Trump remains committed to ending unfair detentions abroad. Sebastian Gorka, senior director for counterterrorism at the U.S. National Security Council, said efforts continue to free other Americans, including Mahmoud Habibi.

U.S. officials have increased pressure on the Taliban to release detained Americans, whom they describe as victims of "hostage diplomacy." The Taliban has rejected the label, insisting that foreign nationals are detained only for legal violations and released after judicial processes.

Afghanistan International reported that the New York Times stated the fate of Afghan-American Mahmoudshah Habibi remains unknown, though his brother claims he is alive and held by Taliban intelligence. Afghanistan International also cited Gorka mentioning Paul Overby as another detainee whose fate is uncertain.