US Citizen Freed After 2 Years in Taliban Captivity
An American airline mechanic who was detained in Afghanistan for more than two years returned to the US on Friday following a deal to secure his release brokered by Qatar.
“George Glezmann is free. George was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for two and a half years. He arrived at Joint Base Andrews earlier today, where he was greeted by his wife and a small welcoming party,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Friday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited Qatar for its “steadfast commitment and diplomatic efforts.”
Glezmann, 66, was taken into custody by the Taliban’s intelligence service in December 2022 while traveling through Afghanistan as a tourist. Glezmann’s health reportedly declined during his detention, and he requires medical care upon his return.
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Glezmann’s release was facilitated by US hostage envoy Adam Boehler. Boehler reportedly met with Taliban representatives, including Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, in order to secure the deal.
Speaking to a reporter on Friday, Glezmann thanked President Donald Trump and other US officials for securing his release. “I’m in debt with everybody that was involved in this situation, because they got me home,” he said.
The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry said the release was granted on “humanitarian grounds” as a goodwill gesture. Unlike a prior deal in January—when the US freed an Afghan convicted on drug and terrorism charges in exchange for two detained Americans—no prisoners held by the US were released in return for Glezmann.
Rubio emphasized that while Glezmann’s return was a positive step, “other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan.” Amid news of the deal, the family of Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-American businessman who disappeared in 2022, continues to press for his release.
