Biden hails release of American prisoner held by Taliban for over 2 years

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden hailed on Monday the release of an American prisoner following two-and-a-half years in Taliban captivity, saying Mark Frerichs will "soon be home."

Biden said the Navy veteran's release was the culmination "of years of tireless work by dedicated public servants" after Frerichs' abduction in January 2020 while he was working in Afghanistan as a civil engineer.

"Bringing the negotiations that led to Mark’s freedom to a successful resolution required difficult decisions, which I did not take lightly. Our priority now is to make sure Mark receives a healthy and safe return and is given the space and time he needs to transition back into society," Biden said in a statement.

"My Administration continues to prioritize the safe return of all Americans who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, and we will not stop until they are reunited with their families. We have much more work to do in many other cases, but Mark’s release demonstrates our enduring commitment," he added.

Frerichs was released in exchange for Haji Bashar Noorzai, a Taliban ally and drug lord who was sentenced to life in prison on drug charges.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told reporters that Noorzai was held at the infamous US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, but a senior Biden administration official sharply rebutted the suggestion.

The official said Noorzai was "never a detainee at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility," and was instead held in prison after being convicted in 2009 of attempting to smuggle heroin in to the US for distribution.

Noorzai was arrested in 2005 by federal agents in New York City after he was designated as one of the most prolific drug traffickers in the world.