In a diplomatic effort, the U.S. is reportedly considering a prisoner exchange involving a Guantánamo detainee to secure the release of American nationals.
U.S. Seeks Release of Americans in Taliban Custody With Prisoner Swap
U.S. Seeks Release of Americans in Taliban Custody With Prisoner Swap
The Biden administration pursues negotiations with the Taliban to free American citizens held in Afghanistan.
The White House has engaged in discussions over the weekend in a bid to negotiate the release of several Americans held by the Taliban in Afghanistan, according to sources familiar with the talks. Although official comments on the negotiations have not been made, reports suggest that the U.S. government has proposed a deal that would involve exchanging Muhammad Rahim, an Afghan national detained at Guantánamo Bay since 2008.
U.S. authorities have categorized Rahim as a senior associate of Al Qaeda; however, some have voiced skepticism about his classification, arguing that his involvement was limited to roles such as courier and translator, which may not present a risk to American security if he were to be released.
The Taliban has acknowledged detaining two Americans. One, George Glezmann, a former airline mechanic, was captured in December 2022 while exploring Afghanistan. The second, Ryan Corbett, was seized during a business trip in August 2022 after living in Afghanistan with his family prior to the collapse of the U.S.-supported regime.
The fate of a third American, Mahmood Habibi, remains uncertain as the Taliban has not confirmed his captivity. Habibi, who was taken shortly after a U.S. drone strike in 2022 that eliminated Ayman al-Zawahri, the then-leader of Al Qaeda, was reportedly arrested alongside 30 others connected to the American consulting firm Asia Consultancy Group. The claims suggest that these individuals had links to the U.S. operation that targeted Al-Zawahri, although U.S. officials have refrained from discussing Habibi's specific involvement, and his current condition is unknown.
U.S. authorities have categorized Rahim as a senior associate of Al Qaeda; however, some have voiced skepticism about his classification, arguing that his involvement was limited to roles such as courier and translator, which may not present a risk to American security if he were to be released.
The Taliban has acknowledged detaining two Americans. One, George Glezmann, a former airline mechanic, was captured in December 2022 while exploring Afghanistan. The second, Ryan Corbett, was seized during a business trip in August 2022 after living in Afghanistan with his family prior to the collapse of the U.S.-supported regime.
The fate of a third American, Mahmood Habibi, remains uncertain as the Taliban has not confirmed his captivity. Habibi, who was taken shortly after a U.S. drone strike in 2022 that eliminated Ayman al-Zawahri, the then-leader of Al Qaeda, was reportedly arrested alongside 30 others connected to the American consulting firm Asia Consultancy Group. The claims suggest that these individuals had links to the U.S. operation that targeted Al-Zawahri, although U.S. officials have refrained from discussing Habibi's specific involvement, and his current condition is unknown.
