American George Glezmann was released by his Taliban captors this week after two years as a hostage.
Glezmann, 65, departed the Kabul airport in Afghanistan on Wednesday evening en route to Doha, where he met with U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler along with a team from the Qatari Foreign Ministry.
Boehler led the Trump administration’s negotiations for the release of Glezmann.
This is the third person to be released from Taliban captivity since Trump took office in January.
But the latest release comes after two other American hostages – Ryan Corbett and William Mckenty – were freed earlier this year under the conditions struck by a deal under President Joe Biden to exchange a Taliban member in U.S. custody.
During a tourist trip to Kabul in December 2022, Glezmann was abducted by Taliban terrorists.
U.ZS. citizen George Glezmann (pictured) was released from Taliban custody on Wednesday after negotiations were facilitated by Qatar for his return after two-and-a-half years as hostage
Glezmann (center) left Kabul Airport on Wednesday evening with U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler (second left) and former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad (second right) along with Qatari diplomatsÂ
He was held for more than two years until Boehler conducted talks with Qatar to help secure his release.
Qatar maintains diplomatic relations with Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021 in the aftermath of the disastrous U.S. withdrawal – while America no longer has a diplomatic relationship with the country.
‘Today, after two and a half years of captivity in Afghanistan, Delta Airlines mechanic George Glezmann is on his way to be reunited with his wife, Aleksandra,’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in a statement on the release on Thursday.
‘We extend our deepest appreciation to the State of Qatar, who’s steadfast commitment and diplomatic efforts were instrumental in securing George’s release,’ he continued. ‘Qatar has consistently proven to be a reliable partner and trusted mediator, facilitating complex negotiations.’
‘George’s release is a positive and constructive step. It is also a reminder that other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will continue his tireless work to free ALL Americans unjustly detained around the world,’ Rubio vowed.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio lauded the return of George to the U.S. on Thursday
White the insurgent-run Taliban government denies it, there is intelligence that U.S. citizen Mahmood Habibi has been held by the Taliban for more than two years.
Glezmann was accompanied back to the United States, through Qatar’s capital, by Boehler, who has been handling hostage issues for Trump’s administration.
An image of Glezmann and Boehler was released with the two preparing to board a plan at the Kabul Airport with former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad and Qatari diplomats who helped negotiate the release.