Conflicts
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ADAM BOEHLER, AFGHANISTAN, AMIR CHAN MUTTAKI, ASIA, ATLANTA, DIPLOMACY, DOHA, DONALD, DONALD ] TRUMP, GEORGE, GEORGE GLEZMANN, GLEZMANN, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, ISLAMIC EMIRATE OF AFGHANISTAN, KABUL, MA, MAHMOOD HABIBI, MARCO RUBIO, MUTTAKI, NORTH AMERICA, QATAR, REUTERS, RUBIO, SEAN SINICO, TALIBAN, TERRORISM, TRUMP, UNITED STATES, US, US STATE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON
Clara Montgomery
US Citizen George Glezmann Released by Taliban After Two-Year Detention
George Glezmann, a US citizen who had been detained by the Taliban for over two years, has been released. His departure was facilitated by diplomatic negotiations conducted in Kabul, with Qatari support. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted this event as part of efforts to normalize US-Afghan relations post the 2021 withdrawal, expressing appreciation for Qatar’s mediation.
A United States citizen, George Glezmann, has been released by the Taliban after being detained for over two years in Afghanistan, as reported by the US State Department. Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, was abducted in December 2022 while traveling as a tourist. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the release as a “positive and constructive step” and emphasized President Trump’s ongoing commitment to securing the release of all unjustly detained Americans worldwide.
Upon his release, Glezmann departed Afghanistan on a Qatari aircraft bound for Doha, accompanied by US hostage envoy Adam Boehler. From Doha, he is anticipated to return to the United States. Rubio expressed gratitude to Qatar for its vital diplomatic efforts that facilitated Glezmann’s release.
Negotiations for the release were conducted in Kabul, where discussions also included matters of bilateral relations, prisoner releases, and consular services for Afghans in the US, according to Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Chan Muttaki. This release is positioned as a step towards the normalization of relations between Afghanistan and the United States, following the US withdrawal in 2021. Muttaki has indicated a desire for further dialogue to overcome the legacies of the past two decades of conflict.
Although no foreign government has formally recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Qatar has played a pivotal role as a mediation center since the Taliban established an office in Doha in 2013. Glezmann represents the third American detainee released by the Taliban this year, while reports suggest that Afghan-American businessman Mahmood Habibi remains in custody, although the Taliban disputes this claim.
The release of George Glezmann marks a significant development in US-Taliban relations, demonstrating ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at securing the rights of American citizens abroad. As negotiations continue, both parties aspire to foster a more stable political and economic relationship, moving beyond the tumultuous history of conflict. Qatar’s mediatory role appears crucial in this endeavor, potentially paving the way for further dialogue between Afghanistan and the United States.
Original Source: www.dw.com
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