Taliban frees American Dennis Coyle 14 months after his capture

WASHINGTON — Afghanistan’s Taliban government announced Tuesday that it had freed US detainee Dennis Coyle, who Kabul had held in captivity since January 2025.

Coyle’s family had pushed for his release in an impassioned letter to the regime, and Afghanistan’s foreign ministry announced that he would be set free for Eid, the Islamic festival to mark the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan undertakes this action on the basis of humanitarian compassion and goodwill,” Kabul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“It has further strengthened the atmosphere of trust between the two countries,” it added. “Likewise, it expresses the hope that both countries will, in the future, find ways to resolve the remaining issues through mutual understanding and constructive dialogue.”

Coyle, a Colorado native, had lived in Afghanistan for some two decades studying language. Taliban forces abducted him from his apartment in Kabul days after the release of Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, two other American detainees.

According to Coyle’s family, he was never charged with any crime.

The Trump administration determined that Coyle was wrongfully apprehended under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, named for a former FBI agent who was abducted while on an unauthorized CIA mission in Iran and died in Tehran’s custody.

While the US doesn’t formally recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government, it holds talks with the regime through intermediaries such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates

Talks with Afghanistan about Coyle‘s release began in late February, CBS News reported, citing a Taliban official.

Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated the Kabul regime as a “state sponsor of wrongful detention,” accusing the Taliban of “unjustly” apprehending Americans and other foreigners using “terror tactics.”

“We thank the United Arab Emirates for its support in securing Dennis’ release. We also appreciate Qatar’s continued support and advocacy for Americans unjustly detained in Afghanistan,” Rubio said in a statement Tuesday.

“While this is a positive step by the Taliban, more work needs to be done,” he went on. “We are still seeking the immediate return of Mahmood Habibi, Paul Overby, and all other unjustly detained Americans. The Taliban must end their practice of hostage diplomacy.”