Afghanistan’s Taliban Frees American Prisoner
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
KABUL (Worthy News) – A U.S. man who had been detained in Afghanistan by the ruling Taliban group for over two years has been released, the U.S. State Department confirmed Thursday.
George Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, was abducted by the Taliban’s intelligence services while traveling through Afghanistan as a tourist in December 2022.
“George’s release is a positive and constructive step,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. “President [Donald] Trump will continue his tireless work to free ALL Americans unjustly detained around the world.”
Well-informed sources said Glezmann left Afghanistan on a Qatari aircraft late Thursday, bound for Doha. He accompanied U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s hostage envoy, Adam Boehler. From there, he was due to travel to the United States.
Rubio thanked Qatar for its “steadfast commitment and diplomatic efforts,” which he said were “instrumental in securing George’s release.”
Worthy News learned that the deal was brokered by Boehler and Qatari negotiators.
The release of Glezmann is part of what the Taliban described as the “normalization” of ties between the U.S. and Afghanistan following the chaotic and deadly American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Most countries still do not recognize the Taliban’s rule.
Glezmann’s release follows a separate deal, arranged in the final days of U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration and also mediated by Qatar, that saw the release of Ryan Corbett and William McKenty.
The Taliban’s foreign ministry in Kabul said those two U.S. persons were exchanged for Khan Mohammed. He was sentenced to two life terms in 2008 after being convicted under U.S. narco-terrorism laws.
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