From CBS News: Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Tuesday announced that it released a U.S. national who had been detained in the country for more than a year.
The foreign ministry said in a statement it agreed to the release after a letter from his family, and that Dennis Coyle “would be pardoned and released” for Eid, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. The U.S. State Department later confirmed Coyle’s release.
“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,” Coyle’s family said in a statement shared first with CBS News.
A Taliban senior official involved in prisoner negotiations told CBS News that the Taliban and U.S. have been holding talks since the last week of February.
Coyle, 64, from Colorado, had reportedly been living in Kabul, Afghanistan for nearly 20 years, conducting “language research.” He was taken by force from his Kabul apartment by the Taliban in January 2025, just six days after another American, Ryan Corbett, had been freed by the Taliban.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday morning: “Earlier this month, I met Molly, Amy, and Patti as they asked for help freeing their brother Dennis Coyle from detention in Afghanistan. Today, Dennis is on his way home. We thank the UAE and Qatar for their support. The release is a positive step towards ending the practice of hostage diplomacy.”
Earlier this month, I met Molly, Amy, and Patti as they asked for help freeing their brother Dennis Coyle from detention in Afghanistan. Today, Dennis is on his way home. We thank the UAE and Qatar for their support. The release is a positive step towards ending the practice of…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 24, 2026
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Afghanistan announced on X:
On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has released one American national, “Dennis Quail,” who had been detained for violating the enforced laws of Afghanistan.
On the occasion of the blessed days of Eid for the family of the aforementioned prisoner, and from the esteemed leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, of compassion and pardon…
د افغانستان اسلامي امارت د کمکي اختر په مناسبت یو تن امریکایي تبعه «ډینس کویل»، چې د افغانستان له نافذه قوانینو څخه د سرغړونې له امله نیول شوی و، آزاد کړ.
د یاد بندي کورنۍ د اختر د مبارکو ورځو په مناسبت، او د افغانستان اسلامي امارت د مشرتابه له محترم مقام څخه د شفقت او عفوې… pic.twitter.com/5jmfUMlh9U— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Afghanistan (@MoFA_Afg) March 24, 2026
Based on the request, a plea had been made for his release. The esteemed authority of the Supreme Court deemed his prior imprisonment sufficient, and today he was handed over to his family in Kabul.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan undertakes this action on the basis of humanitarian compassion and goodwill…
It has further strengthened the atmosphere of trust between the two countries. 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.
د هېوادونو ترمنځ د باور فضا لا پیاوړې کړي. همداراز، هیله څرګندوي چې دواړه هېوادونه به په راتلونکي کې د تفاهم او رغنده خبرو اترو له لارې پاتې ستونزو ته د حل لارې ومومي.
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Afghanistan (@MoFA_Afg) March 24, 2026
President Trump had promised three months ago that he would get Coyle free.
Full circle moment. https://t.co/OrWx4cMfFh pic.twitter.com/cgUNectcRB
— Katie Pavlich Tonight (@KatiePavlichNN) March 24, 2026
Dennis Coyle is on his way home! We remain committed to freeing all Americans wrongfully detained abroad. Today the Taliban took an important step in the right direction, now they must release all remaining Americans immediately, including Mahmood Habibi and Paul Overby. pic.twitter.com/EehmKvwyzI
— Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (@StateSPEHA) March 24, 2026
Afghanistan’s Taliban government announced that it released U.S. citizen Dennis Coyle who had been detained since January 2025. https://t.co/zEMYJSt7RZ
— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) March 24, 2026
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