The current American government has secured the release of an American captive, Mark Frerichs who had been held hostage for more than two years in Afghanistan in exchange for a Taliban drug lord jailed in the U.S.
Mark was abducted in Afghanistan, in January of 2020, while working as a civilian contractor and he was used to negotiate the release of Afghan drug lord and Taliban member Bashir Noorzai, who spent more than 17 years in U.S custody.
Although it took the American administration two years to decide to let the drug lord go, President Biden has announced.
His release is the culmination of years of tireless work by dedicated public servants across our government and other partner governments, and I want to thank them for all that effort. My administration continues to prioritize the safe return of all Americans who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, and we will not stop until they are reunited with their families.”
Joe Biden also shared the good news to the family members and noted that they were happy.
Secretary of state, Antony Blinken said:
“Our commitment to bring Mark home never wavered, and it will never waver for the Americans who are held captive anywhere around the world. His release is a testament to that priority and our around-the-clock work to reunite our citizens with their loved ones.”
The Taliban began demanding the release of Noorzai in exchange for Mr. Frerichs before the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
