KABUL — Afghanistan's Taliban government released U.S. citizen Dennis Coyle at Kabul International Airport on March 24 after more than a year in detention. The release occurred after his mother pleaded for a pardon on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.

Coyle, a 64-year-old academic from Colorado, was detained in January 2025 for alleged violations of Afghanistan's applicable laws. The charges against him were never detailed. Coyle's family said he was working legally in Afghanistan to support Afghan communities as an academic researcher.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that Coyle was on his way home. Rubio thanked Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for their support in securing Coyle's release. "While this is a positive step by the Taliban, more work needs to be done," Rubio said. "We are 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."

Coyle was accompanied by his brother and former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad at a handover ceremony at Kabul International Airport. At the ceremony, Mohammad Ibrahim, son of Afghan detainee Mohammad Rahim, said his family had submitted a letter to the U.S. delegation requesting it be delivered to Washington to seek his father's release.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in a statement that the Supreme Court had deemed Coyle's period of detention sufficient and decided on his release. Muttaqi rejected accusations that the Taliban detained foreign nationals for political purposes.

Mohammad Rahim has been held at Guantanamo Bay for 19 years without charge. Taliban officials have previously sought Mohammad Rahim's release in exchange for American detainees. Mohammad Rahim is believed to be the last Afghan national still held at Guantanamo Bay.

Mahmood Habibi, an American citizen, has been held in Afghanistan since August 10, 2022, without being charged with a crime. Paul Overby, an American author, disappeared on his way to Waziristan in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas near the Afghan border.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.