As Joe Biden’s presidency draws to a close, the time seems to be running out for resolving the knotty problem. The American citizens in the hands of the Taliban in Afghanistan, like pebbles hanging on the edge of a cliff, cause families to worry anxiously. President Biden has promised to do everything in his power, but in such political negotiations, whether he can ensure the safe return of all Americans is an unknown variable. And as for the ‘high-value’ prisoner, his name is like a time bomb, prompting speculation about the real rules of the game behind this political transaction.