Thu Mar 20 17:38:20 UTC 2025: ## American Tourist Freed by Taliban After Two Years in Captivity

**Kabul, Afghanistan –** George Glezmann, a US citizen abducted in Afghanistan in December 2020, has been released by the Taliban after two and a half years in captivity, the US Department of State announced Thursday. This marks the third release of a US citizen by the Taliban since January, with Qatar playing a crucial role in brokering the agreements.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed Glezmann’s release as a “positive and constructive step,” expressing gratitude to Qatar for its assistance. Glezmann, a Delta Airlines mechanic, is reportedly en route to reunite with his wife, Aleksandra.

While previous releases of US detainees, including Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, were linked to prisoner exchanges, Glezmann’s release is described as a goodwill gesture by US officials. The Taliban has framed these releases as part of its efforts towards global normalization, despite remaining an international pariah following its takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

The release comes amidst a complex political backdrop. The Taliban’s seizure of power followed the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, a process initiated under the Trump administration and completed under the Biden administration. The chaotic withdrawal and subsequent Abbey Gate bombing, which killed 13 US soldiers and at least 170 Afghan civilians, have been points of contention between the two administrations.

President Trump’s administration has yet to articulate a clear policy on dealings with the Taliban, despite ongoing criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. Concerns remain over the fate of thousands of Afghan citizens who worked with US forces and the status of US citizens still held by the Taliban, including Afghan-American businessman Mahmood Habibi, whose detention the Taliban denies. Secretary Rubio affirmed the commitment to freeing all unjustly detained Americans.

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