Taliban frees US man who was abducted while travelling in Afghanistan in 2022
George Glezmann is on his way back to the US to be reunited with his wife.
A US man who was abducted more than two years ago while travelling through Afghanistan as a tourist has been released by the Taliban in a deal with the Trump administration, the State Department said.
George Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, is the third American detainee to be released by the Taliban since January. He was seized by the Taliban’s intelligence services in December 2022 and was designated by the US government as wrongfully detained the following year.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio said Mr Glezmann was on his way back to the US to be reunited with his wife Aleksandra, and praised broker Qatar for “steadfast commitment and diplomatic efforts” which he said were “instrumental in securing George’s release”.
“George’s release is a positive and constructive step,” Mr Rubio said. “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.”
Mr Glezmann is being accompanied back to the US, through Qatar’s capital Doha, by Adam Boehler, who has been handling hostage issues for Donald Trump’s administration. The Taliban disclosed earlier on Thursday that Mr Boehler had met a delegation that included Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
