Monday marks one yr since Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old tutorial from Colorado, was taken by drive from his Kabul house by the Taliban. His abduction got here simply six days after one other American, Ryan Corbett, was launched firstly of President Trump’s second time period.
Coyle, who spent practically 20 years in Afghanistan conducting language analysis, is being held by the Taliban Common Directorate of Intelligence in near-solitary confinement with no costs filed, in response to his household. Coyle’s seize so quickly after Corbett’s launch illustrates the continuing dangers confronted by People in Afghanistan, even these with long-standing authorized standing and deep ties to native communities.
Household of Dennis Coyle 
“Dennis is a delicate, soft-spoken man who at all times listens deeply to others, typically over a comforting cup of sizzling inexperienced tea, embodying the Afghan cultural emphasis of hospitality and respectful presence,” Molly Lengthy, considered one of Coyle’s sisters, instructed CBS Information. “In his practically 20 years in Afghanistan, Dennis faithfully honored the Afghan cultural values of hospitality and kindness.”
Coyle’s mom, Donna, 83, and his three sisters, Molly, Amy and Patti, have mentioned the isolation has been crushing. He has missed births, household celebrations, and on a regular basis moments. In line with the household, Coyle is confined to a basement room, the place he should ask permission to make use of the lavatory.
“This previous yr has been extremely difficult for our household, as we have turn into entangled within the abhorrent observe of hostage diplomacy amid my brother’s wrongful detainment by the Taliban since January 27, 2025,” Lengthy mentioned. “We’re deeply grateful for the broad bipartisan assist we have acquired for President Trump to wield the formidable power of the US — as he has completed so successfully in securing the discharge of over 90 hostages in Gaza, Venezuela, and around the globe — to deliver our brother dwelling.”
“Our household is grateful and comforted that the president has personally dedicated to addressing this matter and taking a powerful place on it, and we look ahead to seeing Dennis once more quickly,” Lengthy mentioned.
Two Taliban officers insist Coyle is in good well being and his “rights as a prisoner are protected.” Additionally they declare formal courtroom proceedings in his case would start “quickly.”
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. In an interview during which Coyle’s case was raised final week, President Trump mentioned he would “take a really robust place on it,” with out elaborating additional.
Picture supplied by Dennis Coyle’s household 
Final June, the U.S. authorities formally designated Coyle as wrongfully detained beneath the Robert Levinson Hostage Restoration and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, a standing that unlocks choose authorities instruments and elevates the precedence of efforts to safe his launch.
“The Taliban ought to instantly launch Dennis Coyle and all People detained in Afghanistan and finish its observe of hostage diplomacy,” the State Division instructed CBS Information in a press release. “We remind all People — don’t journey to Afghanistan. The Taliban has detained People for years and the U.S. Authorities can not assure your security.”
America doesn’t acknowledge the Taliban as Afghanistan’s reputable authorities and lacks a diplomatic presence within the nation, complicating launch negotiations which can be typically performed by Qatar as an middleman on behalf of the U.S.
A Qatari official declined to touch upon any involvement in mediating Coyle’s case.
Acknowledging Coyle’s detention, Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid instructed CBS Information, “Negotiations have certainly taken place and are ongoing; nevertheless, each side haven’t but reached a remaining conclusion.”
“The Afghan authorities stays dedicated to what has been mentioned with the US. It also needs to be famous that Afghans have been wrongly detained by the US and proceed to be held there. Their destiny, in addition to the struggling of their households, is much like that skilled by others in detention.”
“These talks ought to result in concrete outcomes and a remaining conclusion, guaranteeing that prisoners from each side are launched,” Mujahid mentioned.
The Biden administration held negotiations with the Taliban to swap People detained in Afghanistan for Muhammad Rahim al Afghani, a Guantanamo Bay detainee alleged to have been an affiliate of Osama bin Laden, however the talks in the end fell via. U.S. officers proposed releasing Rahim in trade for George Glezmann, Ryan Corbett and Afghan-American Mahmoud Habibi, who was kidnapped in 2022, whereas the Taliban countered by searching for Rahim and two others whereas denying it held Habibi.
With the assistance of Qatari negotiators, Corbett and one other American, William McKenty, had been launched final January in trade for a Taliban determine who had been imprisoned for all times on drug trafficking costs. Glezmann and one other American, Faye Corridor, had been launched in March, adopted by a fifth American, Amir Amiri, who was freed final September.
One other senior Taliban official who spoke with CBS Information on situation of anonymity referred to Rahim and claimed the U.S. provided a timeframe of three to 6 months for releasing Rahim. “After we launched U.S. residents final time, the U.S. dedicated to releasing the final Afghan detainee from Guantanamo. We have now already made many concessions. That’s sufficient.”
Along with Coyle, at the least one different American — a former U.S. military soldier whose objective for touring to Afghanistan is unclear — is believed to be at present held by the Taliban.
The State Division has provided a $5 million reward for data resulting in Habibi’s return.
“We aren’t conscious of Habibi’s present standing and we [have] not arrested him,” the second senior Taliban official instructed CBS Information.
In the course of the first Trump administration, the U.S. took steps to normalize relations with the Taliban, together with troop withdrawal agreements and elevated diplomatic contacts. Final September, President Trump expressed curiosity in regaining entry to Bagram Air Base, underscoring a need to keep up strategic leverage in Afghanistan, whereas Taliban officers have signaled curiosity in deeper engagement with the U.S.
That engagement has stalled to an extent because the U.S. has applied sweeping restrictions that embrace suspending visa issuance and entry for Afghan nationals beneath current nationwide safety proclamations, tightening vetting, and pausing processing of just about all Afghan immigration and asylum functions. The strikes have considerably decreased authorized pathways for Afghans searching for entry or resettlement within the U.S.
The home coverage debate intensified following a November 2025 capturing in Washington, D.C., during which an Afghan nationwide evacuated to the U.S. after the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan allegedly killed a Nationwide Guardsman and wounded one other. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, beforehand served for a number of years in Afghanistan’s elite “Zero Items,” paramilitary forces that operated beneath CIA path.
Nonetheless, the Taliban and the US stay involved, Taliban sources mentioned, noting former U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad visited Kabul earlier this month. White Home counterterrorism advisor Seb Gorka and particular envoy for hostage response Adam Boehler traveled to Afghanistan to dealer Amiri’s launch in September.
“We’re very clear that we’ll not supply any additional goodwill gestures,” one of many senior Taliban officers instructed CBS Information.
Final September, the Trump administration created the State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention designation to focus on nations or teams that maintain People with out authorized justification. Modeled after the state sponsors of terrorism designation, the measure would give the State Division authority to impose sanctions, export controls and journey restrictions on nationals of designated nations that detain People for political leverage, and to limit the place U.S. passports could also be used. Up to now, no nations have been designated.
Coyle’s household has launched FreeDennisCoyle.com to coordinate advocacy and share updates.
