George Glezmann: Why did the Taliban detain this American for over 2 years?

George Glezmann, a 65-year-old American citizen who was detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for over two years, has been released following extensive diplomatic negotiations.

The release, facilitated by Qatari mediation, marks a significant breakthrough in US-Taliban relations under the Trump administration.

Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, Georgia, was apprehended by the Taliban in December 2022 while visiting Kabul as a tourist. His detention was widely condemned, with the US government officially designating him as “wrongfully detained” in late 2023.

The arrest and Glezmann’s time in detention

Glezmann, an avid traveller who had visited over 100 countries, was in Afghanistan on a cultural exploration trip when he was seized by the Taliban’s intelligence services. He was held without formal charges and faced deteriorating health conditions while in captivity.

His wife, Aleksandra Glezmann, had only sporadic phone contact with him, and US lawmakers expressed grave concerns about his well-being.

Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock campaigned for his release, revealing that he had been confined to a nine-foot-by-nine-foot cell, spent months in solitary confinement, and was denied consular access.

High-level diplomacy leads to breakthrough

Negotiations for Glezmann’s release were spearheaded by US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler, with key support from Qatar, which represents US diplomatic interests in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

The diplomatic efforts also involved former US Special Representative to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. A source familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that weeks of discussions led to a breakthrough facilitated by Qatari officials, culminating in a direct meeting in Kabul between Boehler and the Taliban’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi.

According to the Afghan foreign ministry, the talks covered “Afghanistan-US bilateral relations, the release of prisoners, and consular services for Afghans in the United States.”

Photographs of Boehler and Khalilzad meeting with Taliban officials were released by Afghanistan’s foreign ministry, marking the highest-level US-Taliban discussions since Donald Trump re-took office in January.

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No prisoner exchange, Taliban calls it a ‘goodwill gesture’

While some past hostage negotiations have involved prisoner exchanges, US officials confirmed that Glezmann’s release was not part of a swap.

In a statement, the Taliban characterided the move as a “goodwill gesture” aimed at fostering engagement with the US on the basis of “mutual respect and interests.”

The release follows a similar high-profile case earlier this year when the Taliban freed two other Americans, Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, in exchange for an Afghan national convicted in a US court on drug smuggling and terrorism charges.

That deal was brokered in the final days of former US President Joe Biden’s administration. However, Glezmann was not included in that exchange, despite US negotiators pushing for his release at the time.

Glezmann’s journey home and reactions

Following his release, Glezmann boarded a Qatari aircraft and traveled to Doha, where he is expected to undergo a medical evaluation before returning to the United States.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the news, stating, “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.”

His wife, who had been advocating for his release, has since spoken with him and expressed relief and gratitude. “They are overjoyed and grateful. And relieved,” said family lawyer Dennis Fitzpatrick.

Meanwhile, the family of another American detainee, Mahmood Habibi, who remains in Taliban custody, has urged the US government to continue pressuring the Taliban for his release.

Ahmad Habibi, Mahmood’s brother, stated that his family remains hopeful, saying, “We are confident that the Trump administration will hold firm that my brother needs to be released for relations with the US to move forward.”

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Glezmann’s case highlights ongoing challenges in securing the freedom of Americans held in Afghanistan. The US has no diplomatic presence in the country following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, making negotiations particularly complex.

Qatar has played a pivotal role as an intermediary, with US officials acknowledging its efforts as “instrumental in securing George’s release.”

With inputs from agencies