BREAKING: American Hostage Freed After Over Two Years in Taliban Captivity

New Delhi: An American man who was abducted over two years ago while traveling through Afghanistan has been freed by the Taliban in a deal brokered by US. and Qatari negotiators, according to the U.S. State Department on Thursday. George Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, was captured by the Taliban's intelligence services in December 2022 and had been designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. government the following year.

Third American Released by Taliban in Recent Months

Glezmann is the third American detainee to be released by the Taliban since January. He was seized while visiting Afghanistan as a tourist and was held in custody for more than two years. 

Accompanied by Diplomatic Envoy

Glezmann is being escorted back to the United States, with a stopover in Qatar’s capital, Doha. He is accompanied by Adam Boehler, a former U.S. official who has been handling hostage-related matters during the Trump administration. 

Part of Taliban's ‘Normalization’ Efforts

The release of Glezmann is seen as part of the Taliban's ongoing efforts to "normalize" ties with the U.S. following the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021. 

No Prisoner Exchange in Glezmann’s Release

Unlike previous deals, Glezmann’s release did not involve the exchange of prisoners. In an earlier agreement brokered in the final days of the Biden administration, the Taliban freed two U.S. citizens, Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, in exchange for Khan Mohammed, who had been convicted under U.S. narco-terrorism laws. Glezmann’s release, however, did not require the U.S. to give up any detainees.

Discussions on Hostage Issues Continue

Earlier in the day, the Taliban revealed that Boehler had been meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and other officials to discuss ongoing hostage situations. These talks are part of broader efforts to address the status of American detainees in Afghanistan.

Controversial Proposal Rejected by Biden

Before leaving office, President Joe Biden had considered a proposal involving the release of Glezmann and other Americans in exchange for Muhammad Rahim, one of the remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay. However, Biden ultimately rejected the proposal, telling families in January that he would not support the trade unless the Taliban also released Afghan-American businessman Mahmood Habibi. While U.S. officials believe the Taliban is holding Habibi, the Taliban has denied these claims.