How a complex triangle of Washington, Kabul and Doha is driving the fate of detained foreigners in Afghanistan is evident from the Taliban’s decision to free American citizen Amir Amiry after months of indirect negotiations. The development also highlights the unusual mix of diplomacy, leverage and public pressure that defines the US-Taliban in Donald Trump’s second term.

Amiry, 36, had been held since December last year. His release on Sunday was the culmination of a process that began early this year with repeated contacts between US representatives, Qatari mediators and Taliban officials. According to sources cited by US media, Amiry was handed over to Qatari officials and transported to Doha before travelling on to the United States. With no embassy operating in Afghanistan since the

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