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U.S. Man Caged by Taliban Finally Free After Over Two Years

George Glezmann was held in a nine by nine-foot cell with other detainees.

An American citizen is finally free after over two years in Taliban captivity. George Glezmann was returned to the United States on Thursday after weeks of negotiations led by Qatari and U.S. mediators. The 66-year-old Delta Airlines mechanic, who was kidnapped while on a trip to Afghanistan, has been held by the Taliban since December 2022. Lawmakers campaigning for his release say he was held underground in solitary confinement for months at a time. As of July 2024, he had only been granted a total of 54 minutes of calls with his family. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he is now “on his way to be reunited with his wife, Aleksandra.” The U.S. did not release anyone in exchange for Glezmann. Trump envoy Adam Boehler led the negotiations. Because the U.S. closed its embassy in Afghanistan after the 2022 Taliban takeover, Qatar represents the U.S. in Afghanistan and facilitates negotiations. Glezmann is the third U.S. citizen to be released from Afghanistan this year, following Ryan Corbett and William McKenty in January.