Taliban officials announced Saturday that U.S. envoys agreed to a prisoner exchange during rare talks in Kabul, marking a potential step toward normalizing relations despite no immediate confirmation from Washington and persistent disputes over detained Americans and Afghan nationals.

The meeting involved U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler and former envoy Zalmay Khalilzad with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, focusing on bilateral ties, citizen issues, and investment opportunities.

Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar's office stated Boehler confirmed both sides would "undertake an exchange of detainees," though details on numbers, identities, or timelines remain undisclosed. The U.S. delegation also offered condolences for the recent earthquake in eastern Afghanistan.

Washington has not commented, and Khalilzad did not respond to inquiries. The Taliban, seeking better ties since the 2021 U.S. withdrawal, described the discussions as comprehensive, but no specifics emerged on detainees like naturalized U.S. citizen Mahmood Habibi, missing since 2022 and the subject of a $5 million U.S. reward, which the Taliban denies holding.

On the Afghan side, the Taliban has pushed for Muhammad Rahim's release from Guantanamo Bay, detained without charge since 2008.

This follows prior swaps: In March 2025, Boehler's visit led to the release of U.S. mechanic George Glezmann after over two years in detention, mediated by Qatar as a "humanitarian gesture." In January, Americans Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty were freed for Afghan Khan Mohammad, serving life in the U.S., with commitments to ongoing dialogue.

The talks occur against strained U.S.-Taliban relations, with no formal recognition of the Taliban government and disputes over women's rights, terrorism, and the 2024 elections.