Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that it is still unclear what the Biden administration plans to do for the release of Ryan Corbett, a US citizen held by the Taliban.
He urged Biden to assert his authority as the President of the United States and ensure Corbett's immediate release.
The Taliban arrested Corbett on August 10, 2022.
The Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee said on Wednesday that Corbett is being held in solitary confinement under very poor conditions and has developed physical health issues.
McCaul stated that Corbett has been involved in humanitarian aid and providing opportunities to people in Afghanistan for over a decade. He should not be treated as a criminal.
He again called on the President to act decisively and prioritise Ryan's immediate release.
Corbett’s wife has said that his mental and physical health has significantly deteriorated in recent months.
The Taliban have not disclosed the reasons for this US citizen's arrest. However, earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a senior US official, that the Taliban demanded the release of Muhammad Rahim al Afghani, who has been imprisoned in Guantanamo since 2008, in exchange for Corbett's freedom.
