Taliban frees US researcher Coyle after over a year in detention

The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan on Tuesday announced the release of Dennis Walter Coyle, a US researcher held for over a year. Officials said the move followed a request from his family seeking a pardon ahead of Eid al-Fitr. Coyle, arrested in January 2025 for allegedly violating local laws, was held in near-solitary conditions, according to a family website.