U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also expressed his appreciation for Qatar’s role in mediating the American citizen’s release.
Qatar has facilitated the release of U.S. citizen, George Glezmann, from Afghanistan on Thursday, two-and-a-half years after his detainment by the Taliban.
In a statement, Qatar’s foreign ministry announced the success of its mediation, noting that Glezmann, 66, had landed in Doha before departing to his home country. His release came after weeks of negotiations led by mediators from Qatar and the U.S., according to CNN.
In a statement to Doha’s state news agency (QNA), Qatar’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al Khulaifi, said that Glezmann’s release was the result of “the fruitful cooperation demonstrated” by the Afghan caretaker government and the U.S.
“Qatar consistently seeks to activate mediation efforts to find peaceful solutions to conflicts, disputes, and complex international issues, based on the principles of its foreign policy, which focuses on promoting a culture of dialogue,” Al Khulaifi said, as cited by QNA.
Al Khulaifi described the Afghan caretaker government’s cooperation as “a gesture of goodwill, reflecting its will to engage in dialogue and communication with the international community”.
“This approach deserves encouragement to establish mutual understanding and move forward in resolving all outstanding issues,” QNA added, citing Al Khulaifi.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also expressed his appreciation for Qatar’s role in mediating the American citizen’s release.
“We extend our deepest appreciation to the State of Qatar, whose steadfast commitment and diplomatic efforts were instrumental in securing George’s release. Qatar has consistently proven to be a reliable partner and trusted mediator, facilitating complex negotiations,” Rubio said in a statement.
The Taliban had detained Glezmann, a Delta Airlines mechanic, in December 2022 when he travelled to Afghanistan “to explore the cultural landscape and rich history of the country,” according to the U.S. Congress.
U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, who led a campaign for Glezmann’s release, previously said he was kept in “a nine-foot by nine-foot cell with other detainees” and was denied consular visits until July 2024.
Glezmann had instead received “limited in-person visits with representatives of Qatar”, according to the senators.
The U.S. ended its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan after its chaotic withdrawal from the country in 2021 following the Taliban’s takeover.
At the time, Qatar evacuated more than 80,000 Afghans and foreigners while moving the U.S. embassy from Kabul to Doha. In November of the same year, Qatar and the U.S. agreed that Doha represented Washington’s diplomatic interests in Afghanistan.
Doha has hosted the Taliban’s political office under Washington’s request since 2013 to help facilitate dialogue with the West.
Meanwhile, in January, Qatar mediated the release of U.S. citizens Ryan Corbett and William McKenty from Afghanistan in exchange for Khan Mohammed, a Taliban member who was serving a life sentence.
