American George Glezmann freed by Taliban more than 2 years after arrest in Afghanistan

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Thursday that American national George Glezmann was on his way back to the U.S. after being released by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers. Glezmann, an Atlanta native, had been in custody after being detained by Taliban authorities while on a tourist visit to Afghanistan in December 2022. 

He had been deemed wrongfully detained by the U.S. government.

Rubio thanked Qatar, saying the nation’s “steadfast commitment and diplomatic efforts were instrumental in securing George’s release.”

His statement came after former U.S. government envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad posted a statement on X announcing Glezmann’s release, which he called “a goodwill gesture” to President Trump by the Taliban.

Mr. Trump, Khalilzad said, had “made the freedom and homecoming of Americans held abroad a high priority. It is an honor to assist in this important effort.”

“George joins American Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, who were released from Afghanistan on the night of President Trump’s inauguration and returned home to their families,” Rubio said in his statement, adding: “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.”

Corbet and McKenty were released in January in exchange for a Taliban figure who had been imprisoned in California on drug trafficking and terrorism charges.

Before President Joe Biden left office, his administration had also been working on a deal to secure the release of Corbett, Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-American businessman who worked as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications company and also went missing in 2022. The Taliban has denied holding Habibi.