The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has released another American citizen, named Dennis Coquille, who had been detained in January of last year. He was freed on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the American citizen had been detained for violating Afghanistan’s applicable laws and was released following a request from his family to the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, as well as a ruling by the Supreme Court.
The deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is believed that this step will strengthen the atmosphere of trust between the two countries and that, in the future, existing issues can be resolved through mutual understanding and constructive dialogue.
Zia Ahmad Takal added: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has taken this action based on humanitarian considerations and goodwill, and believes such steps can further strengthen trust between countries. It also hopes that both countries will find solutions to remaining problems through understanding and constructive dialogue in the future.”
Meanwhile, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghan Peace, Zalmay Khalilzad, who had traveled to Afghanistan regarding this issue, described the release of Dennis Coquille as a correct and appropriate decision by the Islamic Emirate.
Speaking at a press conference, Khalilzad called the move a positive development in relations between Afghanistan and the United States.
He said: “I am very happy to be here with you today. The reason for my happiness is that an American citizen who was detained here has been released today and is returning to his home and country, the United States. I consider his release a good decision.”
On the other hand, the family of an Afghan citizen named Muhammad Rahim Al-Afghani, who has been detained in the United States for nearly 20 years, has called on the administration of Donald Trump to release him as well.
His son, speaking to the media, said they expect a similar step from the current U.S. government and added that they had sent a letter to the U.S. government through Zalmay Khalilzad regarding his father’s release.
Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Afghani said: “My father has been in Guantanamo prison for 19 years without any crime. Today, the Islamic Emirate released an American detainee who returned to his family; we ask the U.S. government to also release our father.”
The Islamic Emirate released Dennis Coquille at a time when it had previously freed two other American detainees, Ryan Corbett and George Glezmann, through Qatari mediation.
A few days earlier, the U.S. Deputy Assistant to the President, Sebastian Gorka, had strongly called on the Afghan government in a tweet to release all American citizens, mentioning the names of four detainees, including Afghan-American Mahmood Habibi.
