American Dennis Coyle completes one year of detention in Afghanistan

Monday marks one year since the Taliban forcibly removed Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old Colorado academic, from his Kabul apartment. His kidnapping came just six days after another American, Ryan Corbett, was released at the beginning of President Trump’s second term.

Coyle, who spent nearly two decades in Afghanistan conducting linguistic research, is being held by the Taliban’s General Intelligence Directorate in near solitary confinement without charges being filed, according to his family. Coyle’s capture so soon after Corbett’s release illustrates the ongoing risks Americans face in Afghanistan, even those with long-standing legal status and deep ties to local communities.

“Dennis is a kind, soft-spoken man who always listens attentively to others, often with a comforting cup of hot green tea, and who embodies the Afghan cultural emphasis of hospitality and respectful presence,” Molly Long, one of Coyle’s sisters, told News themezone. “In his nearly two decades in Afghanistan, Dennis faithfully honored the Afghan cultural values ​​of hospitality and kindness.”

Coyle’s mother, Donna, 83, and three sisters, Molly, Amy and Patti, have said the isolation has been overwhelming. You have missed births, family celebrations and everyday moments. According to the family, Coyle is confined to a basement room, where he must ask permission to use the bathroom.

“The past year has been incredibly challenging for our family as we have been embroiled in the abhorrent practice of hostage diplomacy amid the unjust detention of my brother by the Taliban since January 27, 2025,” Long said. “We are deeply grateful for the broad bipartisan support we have received for President Trump to bring to bear the formidable strength of the United States, as he has done so effectively to secure the release of more than 90 hostages in Gaza, Venezuela and around the world, to bring our brother home.”

“Our family is grateful and comforted that the president has personally committed to addressing this matter and taking a strong stance on it, and we look forward to seeing Dennis again soon,” Long said.

Two Taliban officials insist that Coyle is in good health and that his “rights as a prisoner are protected.” They also state that formal court proceedings in his case will begin “soon.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In an interview raising Coyle’s case last week, President Trump said he would “take a very strong position on this,” without elaborating.

Last June, the U.S. government officially designated Coyle as wrongfully detained under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Accountability Act, a status that unlocks select government tools and elevates the priority of efforts to secure his release.

“The Taliban should immediately release Dennis Coyle and all Americans detained in Afghanistan and end their practice of hostage diplomacy,” the State Department told News themezone in a statement. “We remind all Americans not to travel to Afghanistan. The Taliban has detained Americans for years and the US government cannot guarantee their safety.”

The United States does not recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan and lacks a diplomatic presence in the country, complicating liberation negotiations that Qatar often conducts as an intermediary on behalf of the United States.

A Qatari official declined to comment on any involvement in the mediation in Coyle’s case.

Acknowledging Coyle’s detention, Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told News themezone: “Indeed, negotiations have taken place and are ongoing; however, both sides have not yet reached a final conclusion.”

“The Afghan government remains committed to what has been discussed with the United States. It is also worth noting that the Afghans have been unjustly detained by the United States and continue to be held there. Their fate, as well as the suffering of their families, is similar to that experienced by other detainees.”

“These talks should lead to concrete results and a final conclusion, ensuring the release of prisoners from both sides,” Mujahid said.

The Biden administration held negotiations with the Taliban to exchange Americans detained in Afghanistan for Muhammad Rahim al Afghani, a Guantanamo Bay detainee who had allegedly been an associate of Osama bin Laden, but the talks ultimately collapsed. US officials proposed releasing Rahim in exchange for George Glezmann, Ryan Corbett and Afghan-American Mahmoud Habibi, who was kidnapped in 2022, while the Taliban responded by searching for Rahim and two others, although they denied they were holding Habibi.

With the help of Qatari negotiators, Corbett and another American, William McKenty, were freed last January in exchange for a Taliban figure who had been sentenced to life in prison on drug trafficking charges. Glezmann and other American, Faye Hall, were released in March, followed by a fifth American, Amir Amiri, who was released last September.

Another senior Taliban official who spoke to News themezone on condition of anonymity referred to Rahim and stated that the United States offered a time frame of three to six months to release Rahim. “When we released American citizens last time, the United States committed to releasing the last Afghan detainee from Guantánamo. We have already made many concessions. That is enough.”

In addition to Coyle, at least one other American, a former US Army soldier whose purpose in traveling to Afghanistan is unclear, is believed to be currently being held by the Taliban.

The State Department has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Habibi’s return.

“We are not aware of Habibi’s current status and [have] They didn’t arrest him,” the second senior Taliban official told News themezone.

During the first Trump administration, the United States took steps to normalize relations with the Taliban, including troop withdrawal agreements and increased diplomatic contacts. Last September, President Trump expressed interest in regaining access to Bagram Air Base, underscoring a desire to maintain strategic influence in Afghanistan, while Taliban officials have expressed interest in deeper engagement with the United States.

That commitment has stalled to some extent as the United States has implemented sweeping restrictions that include suspending the issuance of visas and entry of Afghan citizens under recent national security proclamations, tightening background screening, and pausing the processing of virtually all Afghan immigration and asylum applications. The movements have had a significant impact reduced Legal pathways for Afghans seeking to enter or resettle in the US

The debate on internal politics intensified after a Shooting in November 2025 in Washington, DC, in which an Afghan national evacuated to the United States after the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 allegedly killed one National Guard member and wounded another. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwalpreviously served for several years in Afghanistan’s elite “Zero Units,” paramilitary forces operating under the direction of the CIA.

Still, the Taliban and the United States remain in contact, Taliban sources said, noting that former US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad visited Kabul earlier this month. White House counterterrorism adviser Seb Gorka and special envoy for hostage response Adam Boehler traveled to Afghanistan to negotiate Amiri’s release in September.

“We are very clear that we will not offer any more goodwill gestures,” one of the senior Taliban officials told News themezone.

Last September, the Trump administration created the designation of State Sponsoring Unjust Detention to target countries or groups that hold Americans without legal justification. Modeled after the state sponsoring terrorism designation, the measure would give the State Department authority to impose sanctions, export controls and travel restrictions on nationals of designated countries who detain Americans for political influence, and to restrict where U.S. passports can be used. To date no country has been designated.

Coyle’s family has launched FreeDennisCoyle.com to coordinate the promotion and share updates.