- The Taliban released U.S. citizen George Glezmann on Thursday, March 20, after holding him for more than two years. This follows negotiations led by State Department officials and mediated by Qatar.
- President Donald Trump’s current U.S. hostage envoy, Adam Boehler, and former envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, met with Taliban officials in Kabul, while Qatari mediators facilitated Glezmann’s transfer to Doha.
- The Taliban described the release as a “goodwill gesture.”
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The Taliban released U.S. citizen George Glezmann on Thursday, March 20, after more than two years in captivity, following diplomatic negotiations led by Trump administration officials and mediated by Qatar.
Glezmann, a 65-year-old Delta Airlines mechanic, was detained in December 2022 while visiting Kabul as a tourist. His release marks the third time this year that the Taliban have freed an American.
Diplomatic negotiations
The release followed months of behind-the-scenes discussions involving Adam Boehler, Trump’s hostage envoy, and former envoy Zalmay Khalilzad.
Boehler met with Taliban officials in Doha at least three times since January to discuss the case, according to U.S. officials.
On Thursday, he and Khalilzad traveled to Kabul to meet with the Taliban’s foreign minister, discussing bilateral issues, the release of American detainees and consular services for Afghans in the U.S.
Qatari mediators played a critical role in arranging Glezmann’s transfer from Kabul to Doha, where Boehler and a Qatari Foreign Ministry team met him.
A diplomatic source confirmed to Fox News that the Taliban released Glezmann as a “goodwill gesture” to demonstrate trust in Qatar’s role as a mediator between Washington and Kabul.
This agreement differed from the releases of Americans Ryan Corbett and William McKenty earlier this year coordinated by the Biden Administration, which involved a prisoner exchange with a Taliban member in U.S. custody.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reacts
Secretary of State Marco Rubio celebrated Glezmann’s release on X, stating, “After two and a half years of captivity, George Glezmann is finally coming home to his wife, Aleksandra.”
He also expressed appreciation for Qatar’s role in the negotiations.
Other Americans still detained
Trump and Rubio are reportedly pushing the Taliban to release all Americans detained in Afghanistan.
Among those still believed in Taliban custody is American businessman Mahmood Habibi, who was captured in 2022. The Taliban has denied holding him.
For now, Glezmann’s release marks a rare moment of agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban. However, many questions remain about the future of Americans still detained in Afghanistan.
