Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old American academic, was released by the Taliban on Tuesday after 14 months of detention in Afghanistan. He arrived in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday morning.
Coyle, who had been conducting linguistic research in Afghanistan for over 20 years, was arrested in January 2025 by the Taliban General Directorate of Intelligence. He was held in near-solitary confinement without formal charges, denied adequate medical care, and allowed only supervised family visits. The Taliban cited vague "violations of Afghanistan’s applicable laws" as the reason for his detention.
The Taliban Foreign Ministry stated that Coyle’s release was ordered by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in response to a plea for clemency from his mother during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr. The regime described the release as an act of "humanitarian sympathy and goodwill," aiming to strengthen trust between countries.
Former U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad facilitated Coyle’s release, calling it a "good decision" by the Taliban. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also welcomed the release, labeling it a "positive step" but emphasizing that the U.S. continues to seek the return of other detained Americans, including Mahmood Habibi and Paul Overby.
Coyle expressed gratitude for his release, stating he was "very thankful" to return to the U.S. and proud to be an American. He also acknowledged his deep connection to Afghanistan, where he had spent much of his life. The Trump administration, through Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler, asserted that the U.S. "will not tolerate the unjust detention of its citizens," highlighting the release as part of a broader effort to free American hostages.
The Taliban’s release of Coyle follows the earlier release of another American, Ryan Corbett, in January 2025. Coyle’s family had previously described his detention as arbitrary and unjust.