After more than two years in captivity, American airline mechanic George Glezmann has been released by the Taliban and is now safely back in the United States.
Glezmann, a 65-year-old Delta Air Lines mechanic, was detained in Afghanistan in December 2022 while visiting as a tourist.
His release was facilitated by Qatar and confirmed following high-level talks in Kabul between Taliban officials and a US delegation led by hostage envoy Adam Boehler.
According to the Taliban’s foreign ministry, Glezmann was freed on “humanitarian grounds” as a “goodwill gesture.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the move, calling it a “positive and constructive step.”
This meeting marked the highest-level direct talks between the US and the Taliban since President Donald Trump took office in January. Among those present was Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US envoy to Kabul.
Glezmann was seen at Kabul airport before boarding a flight to Qatar, accompanied by Boehler, Khalilzad, and Qatari officials.
His health had “deteriorated significantly” during his detention, according to the James Foley Foundation, which tracks cases of Americans held overseas. He is now expected to receive urgent medical care upon his return.
Rubio also noted that “other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan,” including Mahmood Habibi, who has been in custody since August 2022.
Glezmann’s release follows a similar deal before Trump’s inauguration, when two other US citizens, Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty, were freed in exchange for Khan Mohmmad, an Afghan serving a life sentence in a US prison for drug trafficking and terrorism.
Source: NewsandVibes.com
