A U.S. national imprisoned in Afghanistan for more than a year has been released, according to reports from CNN. Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old academic, was detained in Kabul by the Taliban in January 2025.
According to his family and the U.S. government, he was held in near solitary confinement with no criminal record. Coyle had spent nearly 20 years working in Afghanistan.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has welcomed Coyle’s release. “Today, after more than a year of captivity in Afghanistan, Dennis Coyle is on his way home. 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,” he added. “While this is a positive step by the Taliban, more work needs to be done,” he continued. “We are still seeking the immediate return of Mahmood Habibi, Paul Overby, and all other unjustly detained Americans.”
Coyle’s family thanked the government and lawmakers, private advocates, the UAE and Qatar governments for their active participation in freeing him. “Today, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Dennis’ life and bringing him back home after what has been the most challenging and uncertain 421 days of our lives,” the family said in a statement. The family said they “remain mindful of the many families who are still waiting for their loved ones to return, including the families of Mahmoud Habibi and Paul Overby.”
“It was our hope that Dennis, Mahmoud Habibi, and Paul Overby would be returned together to their families, and we cannot imagine the pain that our good fortune will bring them. We recognize the immense privilege of our family’s reunion today, and pledge to keep praying and fighting for all Americans held to be swiftly released,” they said.
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Reports say that the Taliban Foreign Ministry has also confirmed Coyle’s release, saying, “The Supreme Court determined that his previous detention was sufficient. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan carried out this action based on humanitarian considerations and goodwill, and believes that such steps can further strengthen an atmosphere of trust between countries,” the statement said. “It also expressed hope that both nations will find solutions to remaining issues through mutual understanding and constructive dialogue in the future.”
According to the U.S. government, there was no trade or gift given to assure Coyle’s freedom. According to reports, another person familiar with the issue confirmed that the U.S. had sent a letter to the Taliban asking for Coyle’s humanitarian release. Officials said that labeling Afghanistan as a sponsor of wrongful detention, a measure intended to penalize countries that use U.S. citizens as leverage, helped them to pressure the Taliban to secure his release.
However, reports confirm that the designation of Afghanistan as a sponsor of wrongful detention will not be lifted, the officials added. There are at least two other U.S. nationals, Habibi and Overby, who are still in detention there.
Former Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad also played a crucial role, the officials said, though the person in question highlighted that he does not represent or work for the U.S. government. One of the officials clarified that Khalilzad’s involvement was minimal and was at the request of the Taliban.
Earlier in March, Coyle’s sisters had a talk with Rubio at an event marking National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day. Later that day, the U.S. framed Afghanistan as a sponsor of the wrongful detention, which increases the possibility for the U.S. to impose travel restrictions on Afghanistan. The Coyle family praised the decision.
There are at least two more U.S. Nationals held in Afghanistan. Habibi was detained in August 2022. However, the Taliban has never officially acknowledged holding him. The State Department is ready to offer up to $5 million for information regarding his location, recovery and safe return. In a statement, his brother Ahmad Habibi welcomed the news of Coyle’s release. “My family and I are grateful to hear the news of Dennis’ release. We hope that our family will soon have the same feeling of relief, when Mahmood is returned home to us,” he said.
“Senior officials in the Trump Administration—including Dr Sebastian Gorka—have repeatedly assured me that they will not leave my brother behind and that President Trump wants him to be released,” he added. “The Taliban needs to admit what we already know—that they have my brother—so we can move forward in bringing him home to his wife and young daughter. The Taliban should not be defying President Trump as he seeks to bring home Americans to their family.”
Overby was spotted in May 2014 in Khost City, where he was managing research for a book. Nevertheless, he is believed to be deceased. Both the U.S. State Department and the FBI are offering a bounty for his recovery and return.