Taliban Release US Citizen George Glezmann After Over Two Years in Detention

The release, facilitated by Qatar, signals the Taliban's ongoing efforts to improve relations with the United States.

George Glezmann, detained by the Taliban in December 2022 while traveling in Afghanistan, has been released and is on his way back to the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the release as a 'positive and constructive step' and thanked Qatar for mediating the negotiations.
This marks the third release of a US citizen by the Taliban since January 2025, as part of what they frame as a broader push for normalized US-Afghanistan relations.
Unlike previous cases involving prisoner exchanges, Glezmann's release appears tied to diplomatic objectives rather than a direct swap.
The Taliban, who have been largely unrecognized internationally since taking control of Afghanistan in 2021, continue to seek improved global legitimacy.