American detained by Taliban in Afghanistan is freed in deal mediated by Qatar

An American citizen who has spent more than two years in detention in Afghanistan was released on Thursday, and is now on his way to the United States, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

George Glezmann, 66, was released after weeks of negotiations led by Qatari and US mediators.

“Today, after two and a half years of captivity in Afghanistan, Delta Airlines mechanic George Glezmann is on his way to be reunited with his wife, Aleksandra,” Rubio said in a statement. A US official told CNN that no one was released in exchange for Glezmann.

A source with the knowledge of the situation said that negotiations had been going on for weeks and that a breakthrough was made by Qatar during a recent meeting with the Taliban.

US hostage envoy Adam Boehler had also been in close contact with his Qatari counterparts to secure Glezmann’s release, the source said.

Boehler and former US Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad traveled to Kabul on were accompanying Glezmann on the journey back to the US.