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An American man held by the Taliban for more than a year without charges has been released and is on his way home, Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler told Fox News.
Dennis Coyle, 64, an academic who spent nearly two decades working in Afghanistan, was taken from his home in Kabul in January 2025 by Taliban intelligence and held in near-solitary confinement, Boehler said, adding that Coyle committed no crime and was used as leverage.
"The United States welcomes the release of American citizen Dennis Coyle, who was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for more than a year," Boehler said in a statement to Fox News.
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Dennis Coyle, an American academic who spent nearly two decades working in Afghanistan, was detained by the Taliban in January 2025 and held for more than a year before being released. (Justin Reutter / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
"President Trump made clear: the United States will not tolerate the unjust detention of its citizens — anywhere. His personal determination — executed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a fully aligned interagency team — has driven a shift to accountability, pressure and results."
Coyle's family said he had been legally working in Afghanistan to support language communities as an academic researcher.
Rubio welcomed Coyle's release, saying it was a "positive step by the Taliban," but added that the United States is still seeking the immediate return of Mahmood Habibi, Paul Overby and all other unjustly detained Americans.
"The Taliban must end their practice of hostage diplomacy," Rubio said. "President Trump is committed to ending unjust detentions overseas – Dennis joins over 100 Americans who have been freed in the past 15 months under his second term in office."
"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.
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Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Afghanistan a "state sponsor of wrongful detention," accusing the Taliban of "unjustly" detaining Americans and other foreign nationals like Coyle and calling for his release. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Earlier this month, Rubio designated Afghanistan a "state sponsor of wrongful detention," accusing the Taliban of unjustly detaining Americans and other foreign nationals like Coyle and calling for his release.
To date, the Trump administration has brought home 176 individuals, including more than 100 Americans, from wrongful detention or captivity abroad, Boehler said.
In Venezuela, all detained Americans were released following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, while in Iran, the Islamist regime has routinely taken Americans hostage over decades and continues to detain Americans today, Boehler said.
Taliban soldiers stand guard in Panjshir province northeastern of Afghanistan, on Sept. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Mohammad Asif Khan)
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"In Israel, the president and his team’s dogged persistence resulted in the release of all hostages held by Hamas," Boehler said.
"Behind these outcomes are professionals whose names will never be known—individuals who take real risks to bring Americans home. We will not accept hostage diplomacy. We will impose consequences. Americans remain detained abroad. We will not stop until every single American is home."
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