American Mechanic Freed After Two Years in Taliban Custody 'President Trump — amazing'

[Social Media]

 

After spending more than two years detained in Afghanistan, American airline mechanic George Glezmann has finally been released by the Taliban. Glezmann, who was taken into custody in December 2022 while visiting the country as a tourist, landed in Qatar on Thursday evening before continuing his journey back to the United States.

 

"President Trump — amazing. Thank God he's in the White House where he's at and thank God he got me out."

American George Glezmann — freed this week after more than two years in Taliban captivity — says he feels "born again":

"President Trump — amazing. Thank God he's in the White House where he's at and thank God he got me out." pic.twitter.com/WleOgRaidf

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 21, 2025

 

His release was confirmed following a meeting in Kabul between the Taliban government’s foreign minister and a US delegation led by Adam Boehler, the US hostage envoy. Also present was Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US envoy to Kabul. This marked the highest-level direct talks between the two governments since President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January.

 

 

The Taliban’s foreign ministry stated that Glezmann’s release was granted "on humanitarian grounds" and as "a goodwill gesture." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the outcome, calling it "a positive and constructive step."

 

Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, official contact between the two governments has typically taken place outside Afghanistan. However, Qatar played a crucial role in facilitating the negotiations that secured Glezmann’s freedom. Afghanistan’s foreign ministry emphasized in a statement on X that the agreement demonstrated the country’s willingness to engage "all sides, particularly the United States of America, on the basis of mutual respect and interests."

 

Glezmann, a 65-year-old mechanic for Delta Air Lines, is now on his way to being reunited with his wife, Aleksandra. Rubio expressed gratitude to Qatar for its "instrumental" role in ensuring his safe return.

 

Photographs taken at Kabul airport show Glezmann before his departure, accompanied by Boehler, Khalilzad, and Qatari officials. While in captivity, he was able to maintain only "periodic and limited telephone contact" with his wife, according to the James Foley Foundation, which tracks cases of Americans detained overseas.

 

His return marks a rare instance of direct diplomatic success between the US and the Taliban, offering a glimpse of potential future engagements despite the complex relationship between the two governments.

 

Based on a report by BBC | X  2025-03-22

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

To be fair, Trump he did do the Taliban a solid.
 

They are almost certainly grateful for past favors in the “released from imprisonment” category.

 

 

[Bkk Brian]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

To be fair, Trump he did do the Taliban a solid.
 

They are almost certainly grateful for past favors in the “released from imprisonment” category.

 

 

Wow, you can't actually celebrate the release of a US citizen held for 2 years without a dig at Trump

[DaddyWarbucks]

4 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Wow, you can't actually celebrate the release of a US citizen held for 2 years without a dig at Trump

Don't blame him.

It's a pathological condition that he - and so many others - just can't seem to control.

[Chomper Higgot]

46 minutes ago, DaddyWarbucks said:

Don't blame him.

It's a pathological condition that he - and so many others - just can't seem to control.

Ah a Doctor is among us.