The imprisoned Afghan is Bashir Noorzai, who has close ties to the Taliban. This prisoner swap is believed to be one of the most substantial ones, especially since earlier there had been attempts at his release by previous presidents, unfortunately to no avail. [1] Haq Naraz Khan, Susannah George, Miss Ryan, U.S. hails release of Taliban captive following prisoner swap, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/19/taliban-prisoner-exchange-mark-frerichs/, accessed on September 20, 2022. [2] An American held hostage in Afghanistan has been freed in a prisoner swap, https://www.npr.org/2022/09/19/1123786512/american-hostage-afghanistan-matt-frerichs-released, accessed on September 20, 2022. [3] Erin Doherty, Taliban release American Mark Frerichs in prisoner swap, https://www.axios.com/2022/09/19/mark-frerichs-release-prisoner-swap-taliban-afghanistan, accessed on September 20, 2022.

Source: Washington Post September 23, 2022 07:53 UTC