Rubio Demands Answers on Two More Americans Held by Taliban

President Biden’s administration recently secured the release of Americans Ryan Corbett and William Wallace McKenty from Taliban captivity through a prisoner exchange.

However, the agreement didn’t include all U.S. citizens held by the Taliban.

Senator Marco Rubio recently reported on X that he’d learned of additional Americans held by the Taliban, suggesting a strong response may be necessary.

“If this is true, we will have to immediately place a VERY BIG bounty on their top leaders, maybe even bigger than the one we had on Bin Laden,” he stated.

Dennis Fitzpatrick, advocating for the release of George Glezmann, alleges the Biden administration did not prioritize Glezmann’s release.

“[Biden] and [former National Security Advisor] Jake Sullivan decided to leave George Glezmann in Kabul for no good reason,” Fitzpatrick told Digital. “We are confident that President Trump’s clear-eyed leadership will secure George’s release to his family.”

Fitzpatrick describes Glezmann, a 66-year-old former airline mechanic, as an innocent man wrongly detained and used as a pawn.

Glezmann, detained since December 5, 2022, was reportedly in Afghanistan to explore the country’s culture and history, according to a July 2024 Senate resolution demanding his release. 

The resolution details Glezmann’s deteriorating physical and mental health due to confinement in a small underground cell, limited contact with family, and health issues including facial tumors, hypertension, and malnutrition.

While the Taliban acknowledge Glezmann’s detention, they deny holding Mahmood Habibi.

Habibi’s brother, Ahmad, insists his brother remains in Taliban custody, citing multiple witnesses to his arrest and detention at GDI headquarters. He challenges the Taliban’s denials.

“We have multiple witnesses to his arrest by the [General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI)]. We have multiple witnesses who were held with him at GDI headquarters. The Taliban has always claimed they don’t have him and don’t know who he is. How do they explain the obvious contradictions to this?”

Ahmad also claims the U.S. government possesses evidence of Habibi’s GDI detention and alleges the Biden administration interfered with efforts to secure his release.

Neither the State Department nor the National Security Council responded to Digital’s requests for comment on Ahmad’s claims.

Digital also contacted Taliban spokespeople Zabihullah Mujahid and Suhail Shaheen regarding Habibi; Mujahid didn’t respond, and Shaheen referred Digital to the GDI.

The Taliban reportedly released Guantanamo Bay detainee Muhammad Rahim in exchange for the Americans they admitted holding. Ahmad Habibi stated President Biden assured him in a January 12th phone call that Rahim’s release was contingent on Habibi’s release.

Former Deputy Special Presidential Envoy Hugh Dugan suggested the Trump administration could have employed various strategies for Glezmann and Habibi’s release.

Dugan mentioned options ranging from military rescue to continued diplomatic efforts.

Dugan acknowledged the frustration of families and the need for ongoing efforts to explore all avenues and adapt strategies as needed.