A US envoy has delivered a message from President Donald Trump to Taliban leaders in Kabul, stressing that he is serious about securing the release of American prisoners held in Afghanistan, Taliban sources told Afghanistan International.

According to the sources, Adam Boehler, the US special envoy for hostage affairs, met Taliban Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar and conveyed Trump’s position, urging him to pass it directly to Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The sources said Boehler emphasised that Washington was particularly focused on the case of Mahmoud Shah Habibi, and pressed Baradar to convince Akhundzada to reconsider his stance and ensure the swift release of Habibi and other Americans in Taliban custody.

In response, Baradar reportedly asked for time to consult Akhundzada in Kandahar before relaying Trump’s message about the seriousness of the US position.

While the Taliban’s official statements framed the meetings with Boehler and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi as focused on normalising relations, economic cooperation and sanctions relief, sources said the American delegation prioritised the issue of prisoner releases.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv on Friday, confirmed that American representatives have been engaged in talks with the Taliban for some time but provided no further details.

It remains unclear how many Americans are currently being held in Taliban prisons.

After the first US delegation visit earlier this year, Taliban sources told Afghanistan International that Boehler had warned Foreign Minister Muttaqi the group’s ministries would face retaliation if American prisoners were not freed.