Taliban release a US citizen in a Qatar mediation agreement

Cable (94 news)After direct negotiations between the US ambassador to Kabul, Adam Buhler, and Taliban officials, the Taliban released an American citizen who had been imprisoned in Afghanistan for more than two years.
To George Gleizman, a mechanic for Delta Airlines in Atlanta 2022 Detained while visiting Kabul as a tourist, Gleizmann and Buhler are expected to travel to the US later. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Thursday confirming the release of George Glazeman, Thursday's meeting in Kabul was the first high-level direct talks between the US and the Taliban since President Donald Trump took office in January.
According to the statement issued by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adam Buhler met with the Foreign Minister of the Taliban administration, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in the statement, it is said that during this meeting, the bilateral relations between Afghanistan and the United States, the release of prisoners and the provision of consular services to Afghans living in the United States were discussed.
The statement added that the meeting was attended by former US special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. The Gulf Arab state of Qatar, which represents US diplomatic interests in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, said in a statement published on X that it had facilitated Gleizman's release. An important development has been made by the Qataris.
In a statement, the Taliban described the release of George Gleizman as a "goodwill gesture" that reflected its willingness to negotiate with the United States "on the basis of mutual respect and interests."
Sources say the release is not part of a deal to release any Afghan prisoners held by the US. In January, the US released an Afghan convicted of drug trafficking and terrorism in exchange for two US citizens held in Afghanistan.
Qatari officials were also involved in the negotiations for the deal, which began during the administration of former US President Joe Biden and resulted in 2 Americans Ryan Corbett and William McEntee were released, while a third American, Mahmoud Habibi, is believed to be in custody in Afghanistan.
George Gleizman is the second high-profile American released from prison abroad during the diplomacy of Adam Buehler, who was involved in efforts that led to the release of American school teacher Mark Fogel in Russia last month.
In addition, Adam Buhler has negotiated directly with the Palestinian group Hamas for the release of the remaining prisoners held in Gaza.