After being detained in Afghanistan for over two years, an American citizen, George Gleizman, has been freed from Taliban custody. Gleizman, an airline mechanic by profession, left Afghanistan on a flight to Qatar on Thursday evening and later returned to the United States, according to a BBC report.
In December 2022, he was detained by the Taliban while visiting Afghanistan as a tourist. His release was confirmed after a meeting between the U.S. Special Envoy Adam Boehler, other American officials, and the Taliban’s foreign minister.
The Taliban’s Foreign Ministry stated that Gleizman was released on humanitarian grounds as a goodwill gesture. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the agreement as a positive and constructive step.
This meeting between U.S. representatives and the Taliban is considered the highest-level direct talks since President Donald Trump took office. The Afghan Foreign Ministry confirmed that former Afghan envoy to the U.S., Zalmay Khalilzad, was also present in the discussions.
Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, communication between the two governments has primarily taken place in third countries. Qatar played a key mediating role in securing Gleizman’s release.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Afghan Foreign Ministry emphasized that this agreement signals Afghanistan’s willingness to engage in genuine cooperation with all parties, particularly the U.S., based on mutual respect and interests.
Rubio confirmed that 65-year-old Gleizman, a Delta Airlines mechanic, would soon reunite with his wife, Alexandra. He also thanked Qatar for its crucial role in securing the release. Before boarding his flight from Kabul to Qatar, Gleizman was photographed alongside Boehler, Khalilzad, and Qatari officials.
The James Foley Foundation, which monitors cases of detained Americans abroad, stated that Gleizman had limited phone contact with his wife during captivity. The organization also noted that his health deteriorated significantly while in detention, requiring immediate medical attention.