American Prisoner Returns Home After Yearlong Captivity in Afghanistan

A 64-year-old American arrived back in Texas this week after more than a year in Afghan detention. Family and friends met him at Kelly Field at Joint Base San Antonio on March 25, 2026.

Arrival and reunion

Photos show an emotional reunion as the man embraced relatives on the tarmac. His mother greeted him with a kiss as supporters looked on.

Images credit Sergio Flores/AFP via Getty Images. The scene captured the relief of loved ones.

Detention details

U.S. officials say the man was held in Kabul beginning January 2025. Taliban intelligence detained him without charges.

He spent roughly 14 months in near-solitary confinement. He had lived in Afghanistan for over two decades.

Background in Afghanistan

Sources describe him as an academic researcher. He worked with local language communities during his years there.

U.S. reaction and calls for others

The State Department announced his release the day before his arrival. The agency renewed requests for other detained Americans to be freed.

Officials named Mahmood Habibi and Paul Overby among those still held. The statement urged the Taliban to stop using detention as leverage.

Comments from U.S. envoy

Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler said the detainee had not committed a crime. Boehler told Fox News the detention was being used for leverage.

The return marks a high-profile example of an American prisoner who returns home after yearlong captivity in Afghanistan. Family and officials continue to press for the release of other U.S. citizens still detained abroad.

Reporting produced by Filmogaz.com. Primary sources for this report include Fox News and Getty Images. Story filed from Orlando, Florida.