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From the New York Post: A Georgia man held by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers since December 2022 was on his way back to the US Thursday after Trump administration negotiators secured his freedom, a diplomatic source told The Post.
The Taliban kidnapped George Glezmann, 65, while he was visiting Afghanistan — but he has just been released following negotiations brokered by Trump special hostage envoy Adam Boehler and Qatari officials.
Boehler met with Afghanistan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to finalize Glezmann’s release earlier this week.
Glezmann left Kabul en route to Doha on Thursday following weeks of three-party talks.
Grezmann is a Delta Air Lines mechanic, and was reportedly touring Afghanistan in 2022 when the Taliban captured him.
More from the Wall Street Journal:
The Taliban agreed to send Glezmann back to the U.S. in exchange for improved relations with Washington, U.S. officials said, forgoing its previous demand that America hand over imprisoned Taliban members.
Getting George Glezmann back in exchange for what Trump administration officials describe as preliminary diplomatic talks is a marked departure from negotiations during the Biden administration, when U.S. officials weighed releasing Afghans, including one held at Guantanamo Bay, in exchange for Glezmann.
Seven Americans are still being detained in Afghanistan, including one who is deceased, according to the WSJ.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X, “George Glezmann is free. George was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for two and a half years, but now he’s on his way to be reunited with his wife Aleksandra. Welcome home, George! 🇺🇸.”
George Glezmann is free. George was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for two and a half years, but now he’s on his way to be reunited with his wife Aleksandra. Welcome home, George! 🇺🇸
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 20, 2025
Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad wrote, “Today is a good day. We succeeded in obtaining the release of an American citizen, Georg Glezmann, after two years in detention in Kabul. The Taliban government agreed to free him as a goodwill gesture to @POTUS and the American people. George is on his way home to his family. @realDonaldTrump has made the freedom and homecoming of Americans held abroad a high priority. It is an honor to assist in this important effort.”
Today is a good day. We succeeded in obtaining the release of an American citizen, Georg Glezmann, after two years in detention in Kabul. The Taliban government agreed to free him as a goodwill gesture to @POTUS and the American people. George is on his way home to his family.…
— Zalmay Khalilzad (@realZalmayMK) March 20, 2025
JUST IN: American citizen George Glezmann has been freed from Taliban custody in Afghanistan after two years—thanks to a deal brokered by Trump envoy Adam Boehler and Qatari officials. pic.twitter.com/6KzwTJVQVO
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 20, 2025
The Taliban has released American George Glezmann, ending his two-year detainment and giving President Trump a diplomatic victory that could reshape U.S. relations with Afghanistan https://t.co/uKzRidmzJd
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 20, 2025
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