KABUL — An American airline mechanic, George Glezmann, has been freed by the Taliban after being held in Afghanistan for more than two years. Glezmann, who was detained in December 2022 while visiting the country as a tourist, arrived in Qatar on Thursday evening before traveling back to the United States.
The release was confirmed after a high-level meeting in Kabul between Taliban officials and a US delegation, including US hostage envoy Adam Boehler and former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. The Taliban’s foreign ministry described the release as a “humanitarian gesture” and a “goodwill move,” while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a “positive and constructive step.”
Qatar played a key role in facilitating the deal, according to officials. In a statement on X, Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said the agreement demonstrated the country’s “readiness to genuinely engage all sides, particularly the United States, on the basis of mutual respect and interests.”
Glezmann, a 65-year-old Delta Air Lines mechanic, was pictured at Kabul airport before boarding a flight to Qatar, visibly emotional as he stood alongside Boehler, Khalilzad, and Qatari officials.
The James Foley Foundation, which tracks cases of Americans detained abroad, reported that Glezmann had “periodic and limited telephone contact” with his wife, Aleksandra, during his detention. His health reportedly deteriorated significantly, with medical issues requiring immediate attention.
Secretary Rubio expressed gratitude to Qatar for its “instrumental” role in securing Glezmann’s release and emphasized that the case highlights the plight of other Americans still detained in Afghanistan. Among them is Mahmood Habibi, who has been held since August 2022.
This marks the latest in a series of prisoner exchanges between the US and Afghanistan. Earlier this year, two Americans, Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty, were released in exchange for an Afghan prisoner held in the US.
The release of Glezmann underscores ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the cases of detained Americans while navigating the complex relationship between the US and the Taliban.
