FIRST ON FOX: George Glezmann, an American hostage, was freed by the Taliban on Thursday after more than two years of captivity, following negotiations between the U.S. government under the Trump administration and Qatari officials, according to a diplomatic source familiar with the matter who spoke with Digital.
Glezmann departed Kabul airport on Wednesday evening, local time, en route to Doha, where he will be greeted by U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler and a team from the Qatari Foreign Ministry.
The release of the 65-year-old American, who was abducted while visiting Kabul as a tourist on Dec. 5, 2022, occurred after Boehler, along with Qatari officials, met with officials from the Afghan foreign ministry in Qatar.
While Qatar has maintained diplomatic relations with Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in 2021, the U.S. has not.
The diplomatic source indicated that Glezmann’s release was a “goodwill gesture” by the Taliban, demonstrating “trust” in Qatar’s ongoing role as an intermediary between the U.S. and the Taliban.
This exchange differs from the release earlier this year of two other Americans, Ryan Corbett and William Mckenty, who were freed in exchange for a Taliban member held in U.S. custody in a last-minute agreement brokered by the Biden administration.
Secretary of State Macro Rubio welcomed the release, stating, “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!”
The Trump administration has prioritized hostage releases globally, as well as renewing relations with adversarial nations.
It remains unclear whether Boehler’s meeting with the Afghan foreign ministry signals a potential establishment of official diplomatic ties between the U.S. and the Taliban, especially as Washington seeks the release of another American still detained in Afghanistan.
U.S. citizen has been held by the Taliban for over two years, although the current Afghan government denies holding him.
This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
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