US Secretary of State: George Glazman, who was wrongly detained for two and a half years in Afghanistan, has been released
Washington, DC: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday that George Glezmann, unlawfully imprisoned in Afghanistan for two and a half years, was released.
George Glezmann, 65, was abducted by the Taliban while traveling to Afghanistan. According to the New York Post, they released him after discussions facilitated by Trump’s special hostage envoy Adam Boehler, Taliban officials, and Qatari authorities.
Per NYP, Boehler and former US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad visited Taliban official Amir Khan Muttaqi and Qatar’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson and Senior Adviser to finalize Glezmann’s release earlier on Thursday.
After weeks of three-party negotiations, Glezmann subsequently departed Kabul on the way to Doha.
“Georgine Glezmann is free. George was unfairly imprisoned in Afghanistan for two and a half years, but right now he is en route to see his wife, Aleksandra. Welcome home, George!” Rubio said in an X post.
In a post on X, Khalilzad said that US President Donald Trump gave American citizens’ freedom first priority and that it was moral for him to help Trump in his endeavor.
“Today is a good day. Two years of captivity in Kabul helped us to successfully liberate George Glezmann, an American citizen. Agreed to liberate him as a kind deed to Donald Trump and the American people; the Taliban regime is on his way back to his house. Donald Trump has given Americans detained overseas great attention for their liberation and return. Helping with this vital project is an honor.
Since former President Joe Biden withdrew American military and diplomats from Afghanistan in August 2021, Qatar’s foreign ministry has helped the Taliban and the US have talks. According to NYT, Qatar’s major responsibility is to guarantee that “humanitarian corridors remain open” from and into Afghanistan.
Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated before Congress in 2023 that at least 175 Americans still remain stuck in Afghanistan; however, he did not reveal how many the Taliban were unlawfully imprisoning.
A State Department spokesman told NYP, “There are several Americans currently detained in Afghanistan, and we have been pressing the Taliban to return the remains of a dead American.”
