Family Forced to Flee Afghanistan During U.S. Military Withdrawal

Ryan and Anna Corbett, along with their three children, were among the thousands of American passport holders who fled Afghanistan during the U.S. military withdrawal in August 2021. They had a matter of hours to pack up their lives into five carry-on suitcases.

"To suddenly decide what could fit in and what couldn't was just awful," Anna Corbett, 43, said in a recent interview. "We loved living there."

For almost 12 years, Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul had been home. The family moved there from Minneapolis in 2010, putting down roots, raising pets and welcoming their son, Caleb, who was born in Afghanistan in 2011. He and his two sisters were homeschooled by Anna, who had long shared an interest in travel and service with her husband.

Caleb, now 13, reminisces about his time in Afghanistan, saying, "I had a lot of good times there. Just hanging out with my Afghan friends. It was good. I love the people there and I love the country. It's beautiful there."

Ryan, the father, initially worked with local NGOs and later founded Bloom Afghanistan, a business consultancy aimed at boosting the country's private sector. He taught business skills and helped Afghans secure microloans for purchasing livestock and auto rickshaws. Ryan immersed himself in the culture, learning Pashto and forming meaningful relationships with the locals.

In August 2021, as the Taliban took control of Kabul, Anna, a dual French-American citizen, witnessed a stark transformation in the city. She recalls, "No more women, just Taliban men at roundabouts. It just was so strange. It was like, 'I don't recognize this place anymore.'" Exactly one year later, on August 10, 2022, Ryan Corbett returned to northern Afghanistan for a business trip. Unfortunately, he and three of his colleagues were apprehended by the Taliban. Anna has not seen her husband since.

Ryan's Return To Afghanistan

After they first settled in New York, the couple wrestled for a time with whether Ryan should return to Afghanistan. The Taliban were running the country, and the State Department had warned Americans not to travel there, citing the risk of kidnapping and potential violence against U.S. citizens.

But Ryan's business was still operational, and he felt compelled to support his local staff.

Asked by CBS News why Ryan chose to risk traveling, Anna replied, "He had a business visa. He had been living there since 2010. He knew the language. He knew the culture."

"He did not want to abandon his employees and shut that down just for his own comfort," she continued. "So it was really for the Afghans and for his staff that he returned."

In January 2022, after extensive deliberation, Anna and Ryan agreed he should take a short trip to renew his visa, which was close to expiring.

"When he went to the [Taliban government's] Ministry of Commerce, they said, 'This is such a great business. We love what you're doing,'" Anna recalled.

Encouraged by the positive reception, Ryan made a second trip to Afghanistan that August. On August 10, while traveling in the northern part of the country with three colleagues — a German citizen and two Afghans— Ryan and the others were taken by the police to local headquarters.

The two Afghan nationals have since been released, as has Ryan's German colleague. Ryan, meanwhile, marked 16 months in an Afghan facility run by the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), this December.

Taliban intelligence officials told CBS News that Ryan was accused of anti-state activities. It is a common accusation made against Westerners, and one Ryan's family says is baseless.

Fears for Ryan's life

Ryan spent weeks in solitary confinement before being moved to one cell he shared with four other prisoners, including British national Kevin Cornwell, who was released by the Taliban in October, after being held by the GDI for nine months.

In a phone interview with CBS News, Cornwell said the guards moved prisoners around frequently "to keep us in a state of the shock of capture," he said. "They don't want you to get comfortable, and they also want to intimidate you."

Prisoners were required to request access to toilets, and were often told demoralizing things — including that they would spend years in captivity because they had been forgotten, according to Cornwell and other people familiar with the conditions.

The cell was "like an underground car park, with no windows, just a door, and no ventilation," according to Cornwell, who said he witnessed Ryan having dizzy spells and being unsteady on his feet on numerous occasions.

Cornwell, who experienced two episodes of sepsis while in custody and required hospitalization, revealed that the group was provided with a high-fat diet consisting of fatty portions of goat meat and oil, along with limited amounts of bread. "On fortunate days, we would receive kidney beans or chickpeas," he stated. The group rarely had access to fruits.

Despite instructions for prisoners to have 20 minutes of sunlight each week, Cornwell disclosed that this rarely occurred, with outdoor time often restricted to only 20 minutes per month. He further explained that certain guards would not allow him, Ryan, and two other prisoners to remove their blindfolds even when they were outside.

Additionally, Cornwell's mother mentioned that an accident at age 16 had caused Ryan to have a collapsed lung, making him highly susceptible to pneumonia. "I'm extremely worried that his health will deteriorate rapidly in these cold and damp conditions, being confined in a basement," she expressed. "I fear for his life."

A Taliban intelligence official informed CBS News that Ryan's health was "fine" and that he was being held in a "guesthouse." The official claimed that he had daily access to sunlight, goat and sheep meat, newspapers, magazines, and a small gym, privileges not extended to other inmates. CBS News has not been able to verify these assertions.

Taliban Denies Torture and Mistreatment of Prisoners

The Taliban's appointed envoy to the United Nations, Suhail Shaheen, has denied allegations of torture and mistreatment of prisoners. In an interview with CBS News, Shaheen stated, "We don't torture or mistreat anyone in custody."

These remarks come amidst growing concerns about the treatment of detainees under Taliban rule, particularly after the recent imprisonment of American citizen Ryan, whose full name has been withheld for security reasons.

Ryan's family has revealed that he has only been visited once in person, by officials from Qatar, who have been providing diplomatic representation since the U.S. severed ties with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. The visit took place almost a year ago, in January 2023.

It was not until May, nine months after his initial imprisonment, that Ryan's wife, Anna, received her first phone call from him. The call lasted only six minutes.

Anna recently began publicly sharing her husband's story, and it was only after doing so that she received a second phone call from Ryan just days ago.

"I Want Him Back Alive"

Anna, who has relocated to a new neighborhood in New York with her children, expressed the emotional toll of keeping her husband's imprisonment a secret. She said, "I was sad that my neighbors were assuming that [Ryan] had left us, that we were divorced. And when people asked me questions, I had to respond, 'He's on a business trip — a never-ending business trip.' It was so difficult to keep it quiet."

In an effort to appeal for her husband's release, Anna's son Caleb even wrote a letter in Pashto to the Taliban.

Caleb, a young boy, expressed his desire to do whatever he can to bring his father back home. He misses his dad and believes that every day counts in their efforts to reunite.

In an interview with CBS News, Caleb shared that he wrote a letter to the Taliban officials who are holding his father captive. In the letter, he talked about his positive experiences in Afghanistan and emphasized that his father did nothing wrong. Caleb pleaded with the Taliban to release his father, as he believes his dad was only trying to help the country.

According to Caleb's mother, Anna, the letter was indeed sent to the Taliban officials, but the family has not received any response thus far.

After over a year of imprisonment, the State Department finally acknowledged in September that Ryan had been wrongfully detained. This designation grants the U.S. government access to certain diplomatic and intelligence tools, as well as the possibility of prisoner swaps. It also involves Congress in the process. For Anna, the wait for this designation was excruciating.

Sources familiar with the situation revealed that the delay was partly due to internal discussions on whether granting the designation would legitimize the Taliban as a governing entity, something the U.S. has been hesitant to do.

Although Anna was never given a clear explanation for the delay, she expressed her gratitude when the designation was finally made.

Anna Testifies Before House Foreign Affairs Committee

On Nov. 14, Anna testified publicly for the first time before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, telling the panel her husband had been kept in "deplorable and inhuman conditions," and that he had been charged with no crime. She said she feared for his physical and mental health.

Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas, told CBS News the Corbetts were an "amazing family whose kindness and passion for helping others is obvious."

"Ryan does not deserve what is happening to him, and I will never stop advocating for his release," he said.

Sources familiar with the matter said that the Taliban are currently holding as many as six Americans, including Ryan. Some have been taken hostage recently, within the past few months. Two other Americans have, like Ryan, been deemed wrongfully detained.

"The Taliban are evil terrorists who commit unfathomable atrocities and take Americans hostage," McCaul said. "We should be honest about who the Taliban are and stop pretending that they will ever be our friends."

"I am concerned the Taliban continues to take American hostages because they have never been held responsible by the Biden administration for any of their many egregious crimes," he added.

In a statement, National Security Council Deputy spokesperson stated the Biden administration's commitment to bringing home wrongfully detained Americans

The Biden administration, led by National Security Council Deputy spokesperson Kate Waters, has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to bringing home Americans who are wrongfully detained abroad, including Ryan Corbett. In an official statement, Waters expressed the administration's dedication to doing everything within its power to secure the release of Corbett and other Americans facing similar circumstances.

Over the past few months, senior officials from the White House and State Department have maintained regular communication with the Corbett family, providing them with updates on the tireless efforts being made to bring Ryan home. This ongoing engagement demonstrates the administration's determination to resolve the situation and reunite Corbett with his loved ones.

Continued Warnings Against Traveling to Afghanistan

Waters also emphasized the administration's consistent warnings to Americans against traveling to Afghanistan. This advisory has been in place for years, and especially since the United States' withdrawal from the country in 2021. The Biden administration strongly advises citizens to avoid visiting Afghanistan due to the potential risks and challenges associated with the region's volatile security situation.

Anna's Meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Following her congressional testimony, Anna, Ryan Corbett's family member, had a significant meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. During this meeting, Blinken assured Anna that Ryan's case is a top priority for the administration. He pledged to personally engage with Qatar's foreign minister, who could then raise the matter with the Taliban. This diplomatic approach highlights the administration's dedication to exploring all possible avenues for securing Ryan's release.

Anna expressed her gratitude for Blinken's responsiveness and acknowledged the government's capability to take effective action when focused on a specific objective. She drew attention to the recent release of hostages in Gaza, which demonstrated the government's ability to achieve positive outcomes for families in distress.

Several days after going public, and after her call with Blinken, Anna received a second phone call from Ryan, this one lasting 10 minutes. She could hardly believe it — she'd been told before a call was coming, only to never have it happen.  

"It's really hard to talk to your husband of almost 20 years for such a short amount of time," Anna said. "It's extremely emotional, and made me miss him more."

Caleb, who was with Anna when the call came through, said it was "hard." 

"They're listening," he said, referring to the Taliban. "And I have to be careful what I say." 

"I think what is troubling to me is that conversations are increasing with the Taliban," Anna said. "It seems like efforts are being made to strengthen that relationship. And in the meantime a wrongfully detained U.S. citizen has only had 16 minutes of call with his family and is still detained in a basement in Kabul." 

But she said the recent call with Ryan left her feeling that she made the right choice in telling his story. 

"It was actually really encouraging to hear from him," Anna said, "and to see that maybe, going public, sharing this story, is making a difference for him." 

In a statement, a State Department spokesperson said the United States "has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas."  

Officials Continue to Urge for Release of Americans Detained in Afghanistan

Government officials in the United States have been persistently advocating for the immediate and unconditional release of Americans who are currently detained in Afghanistan. These detentions have been identified as a significant barrier to fostering positive engagement between the two nations. However, due to privacy, safety, and operational concerns, specific details about these cases cannot be publicly disclosed.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has personally taken on the task of bringing home Americans who are held hostage or wrongfully detained overseas. He has made a point to meet with the families of those who are wrongfully detained whenever possible. In November, he virtually met with the family of Ryan Corbett, one of the detained Americans.

A Glimmer of Hope for a Holiday Reunion

In anticipation of the holiday season, Anna, the wife of Ryan Corbett, has hung five stockings in their family home, holding onto the hope that Ryan will be back in time for Christmas. The absence of Ryan during Thanksgiving was already difficult for the family, and a second holiday without him would be devastating.

Anna expressed the emotional toll that the separation has taken on the family, recounting the important milestones that they have missed celebrating together. Their daughters have turned 16 and 18, and one of them is now preparing for college. Additionally, their son Caleb achieved a significant personal milestone by shooting his first buck, a moment that Ryan, an avid hunter, would have been immensely proud of.

Meanwhile, Ryan celebrated his 40th birthday alone in his cell, without his family by his side. Anna shared that they marked the day with friends and prepared presents for Ryan to open once he is reunited with them.