George Glezmann, an American who had been held hostage by the Taliban since December 2022, was released on Thursday as part of a deal negotiated by the U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler.
The agreement, mediated by Qatar, did not involve any concessions or prisoner exchanges from the United States. In a statement, the Afghan foreign ministry described the release as being on “humanitarian grounds.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed gratitude toward Qatar for its role in securing Glezmann’s freedom, stating that the country was “instrumental in securing George’s release.”
Rubio’s praise of Qatar comes shortly after Tucker Carlson’s controversial interview with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Qatar seems to be making efforts to engage with segments of the American right, both through media outreach—such as appearing on Carlson’s program—and through diplomatic actions.
Glezmann’s release is part of ongoing diplomatic talks between the U.S. and the Taliban in Afghanistan, as the Trump administration explores ways to develop a more functional relationship with the new government. However, the U.S. has not formally recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
