Taliban release detained US citizen Faye Hall

WASHINGTON - An American woman freed by the Taliban in Afghanistan celebrated her release, in a video shared on March 29 by US President Donald Trump, in which she thanked him for helping secure her freedom.

In a video shared on Mr Trump’s Truth Social account, Ms Faye Hall is seen smiling and in apparently good health, saying: “Thank you for bringing me home.”

Ms Hall, a British couple and their Afghan translator were detained on Feb 1 as they travelled to central Bamiyan province.

Washington’s former envoy to Kabul, Mr Zalmay Khalilzad, said Ms Hall was in the care of the Qatari delegation in Kabul.

“American citizen Faye Hall, just released by the Taliban, is now in the care of our friends, the Qataris in Kabul, and will soon be on her way home,” Mr Khalilzad, who has been part of a US delegation working on Taliban hostage releases, wrote on X.

While at the Qatari embassy, Ms Hall “has been confirmed in good health after undergoing a series of medical checks,” according to a source with knowledge of the release.

She was released on March 27 following a court order and with logistical support from Qatar, the source added.

In the video promoted by Mr Trump’s account, Ms Hall said she was proud to be a US citizen and urged support for Afghan women held in Taliban jails.

“Thank you, Mr President,” she said. “And I just want you to know, all the women in the Afghan jail, they always ask me, ‘When is Trump coming?‘ You, truly, they just treat you like their savior. They’re waiting for you to come and set them free.”

In the post accompanying the video, Mr Trump said: “Thank you Faye - So honoured with your words!”

Ms Hall, identified by the