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American George Glezmann Released After Over Two Years in Taliban Detention

The 66-year-old's release, facilitated by Qatar, is being described as a goodwill gesture by the Taliban toward the United States.

George Glezmann, shown here in an undated file photo, was held in Afghanistan for more than two years.
George Glezmann with Qatari diplomats in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday, March 20, 2025, before departing to Doha.
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Overview

  • George Glezmann, an American tourist detained by the Taliban in December 2022, has been freed after over two years in captivity.
  • The release was mediated by Qatar, which has acted as a diplomatic channel between the U.S. and the Taliban since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
  • The Taliban framed Glezmann's release as a humanitarian act and a goodwill gesture to the United States, with no prisoners exchanged in return.
  • U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler accompanied Glezmann during his transfer from Kabul to Doha, where he received medical attention for health issues that worsened during his detention.
  • Glezmann is the third American released by the Taliban this year, following the January release of two others in a prisoner exchange mediated by Qatar.