The Afghan Taliban confirmed on Sunday that two American citizens are currently being detained for violations of Afghan laws. This revelation comes as the US State Department recently reported that three American citizens are imprisoned in Afghanistan.

According to media reports, a State Department spokesperson identified the detained individuals as George Glezmann, Mahmood Habibi, and Ryan Corbett.

Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, informed The Media Line, “Both American nationals violated the country’s law, and discussion has been held with the US officials in this regard.”

Last week, Zabiullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesperson, told reporters in Kabul that “the topic of a prisoner release was discussed during his recent meeting with US officials in Doha, continuing a recurring theme in their negotiations.”

Mujahid emphasized that Afghanistan’s conditions must be met for any prisoner exchange. “We have our citizens who are imprisoned in the US and Guantanamo. We should free our prisoners in exchange for them. Just as their prisoners are important to America, Afghans are equally important to us,” he stated.

Amid these discussions, Taliban fighters celebrated the first anniversary of the fall of Kabul on a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 15, 2022, underscoring the ongoing complex dynamics between the Taliban and the international community.

The Other American Detainees

Meanwhile, the US Congress has passed a resolution demanding the immediate and unconditional release of George Glezmann and all other American citizens and lawful permanent residents detained by the Taliban. The resolution criticized these arrests as “wrongful detentions.”

The resolution highlighted that Glezmann traveled to Afghanistan in December 2022 on a five-day trip to explore the country’s cultural landscape and history. “The Taliban detained Glezmann without charging him with a crime or granting him due process in any judicial proceedings,” the resolution stated.

Glezmann turned 65 years old during his wrongful detention, and his physical and mental health are reportedly deteriorating rapidly due to the stress and harsh conditions. The resolution expressed the family’s fear that he may not survive his detention.

It also noted that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has designated Glezmann as wrongfully detained. Reports indicate that he has endured months of solitary confinement.

Ryan Corbett, the second US citizen, was taken into custody in August 2022, a year after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US-led Western troops. Details regarding his detention and alleged violations of Afghan laws remain unclear.

Silence on Mahmood Habibi

Fitrat declined to discuss the third detainee, Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-born American national. The lack of information about Habibi raises concerns about his whereabouts and the circumstances of his detention.

Congressional and International Response

The detentions of these American citizens have sparked outrage in the US Congress and among human rights organizations. Lawmakers are calling for urgent diplomatic efforts to secure their release. The resolution passed by Congress underscores the gravity of the situation and demands immediate action from the Biden administration.

Conclusion

The detentions of George Glezmann, Ryan Corbett, and Mahmood Habibi highlight the precarious state of US-Afghan relations under Taliban rule.

As negotiations continue, the fate of these American citizens remains uncertain, with their families and lawmakers urging swift and decisive action to bring them home. The international community watches closely as the situation unfolds, hoping for a resolution that respects human rights and international law.

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members