The family of Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-American citizen detained by the Taliban, expressed confidence that the Trump administration will press for his release.
Welcoming Glezmann’s release, Habibi’s brother, Ahmad Habibi, released a statement expressing gratitude for Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler and former U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, saying they “confronted the Taliban about their refusal to admit they are holding my brother.”
The Taliban have denied detaining Habibi, but his family insists otherwise.
Ahmad Habibi also claimed that the Biden administration was aware of his brother’s captivity and had evidence that he was being held by the Taliban.
According to reports, Habibi is allegedly being held responsible for the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former al-Qaeda leader who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Kabul in 2022.
Al-Zawahiri, a key figure behind the 2012 Benghazi attacks, was reportedly moved to Kabul by the Haqqani network, a Taliban affiliate, prior to his death. However, the Taliban have never acknowledged his presence in Afghanistan and have denied involvement in his death.
The Taliban released George Glezmann on Thursday after two years in custody, just hours after a U.S. delegation, including Khalilzad, arrived in Kabul for talks with the Taliban’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi.
The Biden and Trump administrations have sought diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, with Qatar playing a key mediating role in past hostage negotiations. However, it remains unclear whether Habibi’s case was directly addressed in these recent discussions.
Ongoing Concerns Over American Detainees
With Glezmann’s release, at least two more Americans, including Habibi, are believed to remain in Taliban custody.
The Trump administration has prioritized the release of Americans held abroad, with former President Donald Trump vowing to continue efforts to secure their freedom. The White House has yet to publicly comment on Habibi’s case following Glezmann’s release.
