President Biden spoke on Sunday with the families of three Americans detained in Afghanistan by the Taliban since 2022, reiterating his administration’s commitment to securing the release of Americans wrongfully held overseas, the White House said.
The Biden administration has been negotiating with the Taliban about a potential prisoner exchange to secure the release of Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann, and Mahmood Habibi, according to officials familiar with the discussions. The proposal reportedly involves trading the three Americans for Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani, a high-profile detainee held at Guantánamo Bay.
Efforts to secure their freedom are ongoing, a source with knowledge of the matter said on Sunday as quoted by Reuters. Corbett and Habibi were detained in separate incidents in August 2022, a year after the Taliban regained control of Kabul during the U.S. military withdrawal. Glezmann, detained later that year while traveling as a tourist, remains in custody.
Ahmad Habibi, the brother of Mahmood Habibi, participated in Sunday’s call with the president and expressed gratitude for Biden’s personal assurances.
“President Biden was very clear in telling us that he would not trade Rahim if the Taliban do not release my brother,” Ahmad Habibi said. “He assured us he would not leave him behind. My family is very grateful for his support.”
The Taliban, which has denied holding Mahmood Habibi, has countered the U.S. proposal, reportedly offering to exchange Corbett and Glezmann for Rahim and two additional detainees.
The White House emphasized Biden’s track record on securing the release of Americans detained abroad, noting that more than 75 have been brought home during his presidency. This includes individuals held in countries such as Myanmar, Iran, Russia, and Venezuela.
“President Biden and his team have worked tirelessly, often in close partnership with allies, to negotiate for the release of Americans held hostage or unjustly detained overseas, and will continue these efforts throughout the remainder of his term,” the White House said in a statement.
Rahim, described in a Senate Intelligence Committee report as an “Al Qaeda facilitator,” was apprehended in Pakistan in 2007 and transferred to a CIA “black site,” where he underwent harsh interrogation methods, including sleep deprivation. He was moved to Guantánamo Bay in 2008.
Biden has also sought to reduce the population at Guantánamo Bay as part of a long-standing effort to close the detention center. Last week, his administration transferred 11 detainees to Oman, cutting the number of prisoners at the facility nearly in half.
The administration has faced pressure to balance its negotiations with the Taliban against broader concerns over human rights and security, particularly as the Taliban continues to enforce strict controls on Afghan society and harbor individuals with ties to extremist groups.
