Afghanistan Peace CampaignMohammad Rahim has been held at Guantanamo Bay since 2008 and, according to reports, is the last Afghan prisoner in U.S. custody.
The New York Times reported that the Islamic Emirate called for the release of the last Afghan detainee at Guantanamo Bay in exchange for the release of two American citizens.
Zabihullah Mujahid told The New York Times that the Islamic Emirate wants the release of the two American citizens to be accompanied by the release of Mohammad Rahim, the last Afghan still held at Guantanamo.
Mujahid stated: “We want these two American detainees to be released, and, at the same time, the fate of our detainee who is in Guantánamo should be made clear, Our prisoner should be released.”
A source familiar with the negotiations between the U.S. and the Islamic Emirate told The New York Times that talks over a prisoner exchange between Kabul and Washington have currently reached a deadlock.
A senior U.S. official also told the newspaper that, despite repeated requests from Afghanistan, Mohammad Rahim will not be part of any future agreement between the two sides.
Political analyst Fareedullah Zazai said: “If the U.S. accepts Kabul’s request, it could send a message to the world that the consequences of the war have come to an end. Another meaning of this message is that Kabul wants to transform technical ties into political relations.”
Mohammad Rahim has been held at Guantanamo Bay since 2008 and, according to reports, is the last Afghan prisoner in U.S. custody.
Although reports of his possible release emerged in late September 2025, the matter remains unresolved to date.