The United States has confirmed the release of an American from Afghanistan

      photo:rte'

The United States has confirmed the release of American engineer Mark Frerichs in exchange for senior Taliban figure Haji Bashir Noorzai, a senior Biden administration official said.

Mr Biden granted clemency to Noorzai after he spent 17 years in US government custody, the official said.

The US government previously said that Mr Frerichs was working as a civil engineer on construction projects in Afghanistan when he was "taken hostage".

"After long negotiations, US citizen Mark Frerichs was handed over to an American delegation and that delegation handed over (Bashar Noorzai) to us today at Kabul airport," Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said at a press conference.

"We are pleased that we were able to witness the great event of one of our compatriots returning home at Kabul International Airport, in the capital of Afghanistan."

The newly established Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's leadership greeted Noorzai with heroic fanfare (IEA). Photos demonstrate that he was welcomed by Taliban soldiers wearing masks and carrying floral garlands.

Noorzai told reporters at the press conference, "I would not be here today if the IEA had not proven its tremendous determination.

"The exchange of an American for my release will lead to peace between Americans and Afghans."

Noorzai is the second Afghan prisoner that the US has recently freed. Assadullah Haroon was freed in June after 15 years in Guantanamo Bay captivity.

After being detained in 2006 while conducting business as a honey dealer, Haroon was suspected of having ties to al-Qaeda and kept at the US detention facility in Cuba for years without being given a trial.

According to the terms of the agreement with the Taliban, he was not freed.

Noorzai's release, according to Afghan security analyst Hekmatullah Hekmat, was a "huge accomplishment" for Kabul's new authorities.

According to him, the Taliban could inform Afghans and their foot soldiers that they could retrieve family members captured by opposition forces.

According to Mr. Muttaqi, Noorzai's return to Afghanistan ushers in a "new chapter" in Afghan-American ties.

A little over a year ago, the United States and its NATO partners withdrew from Afghanistan after 20 years of military participation, leading to the Taliban's takeover of the country.

Since then, the country has further descended into economic and humanitarian distress as Washington has blocked billions of dollars' worth of Afghan assets overseas and significantly restricted international help.

No nation has as of yet recognised the new administration, despite repeated warnings from Washington to the Taliban that they would need to "earn" legitimacy.

The release of naval veteran Mr. Frerich was previously referred to as one of the government's "essential, non-negotiable priority" by the US State Department.

"Before the Taliban can hope for any consideration of its aspirations for legitimacy, it must promptly release Mark. This cannot be changed, "In a remark made in January, US President Joe Biden said.

Noorzai, a militia leader and Taliban ally, was given a life sentence for importing heroin and had already served 17 years.

He was close friends with the late Taliban leader Mullah Omar and had previously fought alongside mujahideen forces supported by the US against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

US prosecutors said at the time of his trial that he oversaw a "global drugs network" and provided assistance for the Taliban's first government between 1996 and 2001.

While he held no official position, Noorzai had "provided strong support including weapons" for the Taliban in the 1990s, Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP.