Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements
IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Naeini: Trump's statements are a result of his defeat against Iran, and we advise him to abandon absurd policies
Gaza Government Media Office: The number of children martyred due to malnutrition has risen to 66
Saree: Loyal Yemen will not abandon its religious, moral, and humanitarian duties toward the Palestinian people
Saree: Over the past week, we carried out military operations targeting sensitive sites and military installations in Beer al-Sabe', Yafa, and Haifa via a number of ballistic missiles and drones, which were all successful
Saree: The operation was carried out via a Zulfiqar missile, which successfully achieved its goal
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson, Brigadier General Yahya Saree: Our forces carried out a top-tier military operation targeting a sensitive target in occupied Beer al-Sabe', and it was successful

Taliban releases US prisoner, signals openness to dialogue

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 20 Mar 2025 21:13
4 Min Read

The freed prisoner was captured two and a half years ago in Kabul, with Qatar mediating negotiations between the Taliban administration and the US to free him and other US prisoners in Afghanistan.

Listen
  • x
  • George Glezmann, center, poses with Adam Boehler, second left, and Zalmay Khalilzad, second right, and Qatari diplomats in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, March 20, 2025 (AP)
    George Glezmann, center, poses with Adam Boehler, second left, and Zalmay Khalilzad, second right, and Qatari diplomats in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, March 20, 2025 (AP)

The Taliban government in Afghanistan announced that freeing a United States citizen demonstrates its willingness to hold talks, especially with the United States.

"The release of the American detainee came as a gesture of goodwill," stated the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an X post on Thursday, emphasizing that the move reflects "the emirate's willingness to engage pragmatically with all parties, particularly with the United States, based on mutual respect and shared interests."

The Taliban authorities released US citizen George Glezmann on Thursday after two years in captivity. He was captured in Kabul by Afghan authorities and freed as part of a deal brokered by Qatar, as announced by US Secretary of State following his visit to the Afghan capital alongside US hostage envoy Adam Boehler.

"Today, after two and a half years of captivity in Afghanistan, Delta Airlines mechanic George Glezmann is on his way to be reunited with his wife, Aleksandra," Rubio stated, adding, "George's release is a positive and constructive step. It is also a reminder that other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan."

Ahead of the announcement, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi hosted Boehler, who was joined by Washington's former envoy to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, who described the day as a good one in a post on X.

Related News

Trump's Iran strike revives fears of US military failures: CNN

Kabul faces total water collapse by 2030

The US delegation comprising Rubio and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler is the first to visit Kabul since the inauguration of the new US President Donald Trump, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Hafiz Zia Ahmad as cited by AFP, while contacts between the two countries have been maintained since 2021.

This comes amid a row between the Taliban government and the US administration, as Trump pushes Afghanistan to return American military equipment left behind during its withdrawal from the country.

Taliban rejects Trump’s demand to return $7B US weapons

Once again criticizing the Biden administration for what he described as a disastrous withdrawal, US President Donald Trump has renewed his call for the return of $7 billion worth of military equipment left in Afghanistan during its withdrawal, describing the situation as "the greatest embarrassment in American history.”

Abandoned during the US military’s exit in 2021, the weapons and vehicles fell into the hands of the Taliban, who seized a vast arsenal that included firearms, military vehicles, drones, and communication systems, as Trump urged the US government to take decisive action while warning that these weapons could pose a global security threat

Dismissing Trump’s statements as unrealistic, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid asserted that the equipment now belongs to Afghanistan, stating, “The weapons left behind by American forces now belong to our people in Afghanistan,” while warning, “If anyone wants to take them from us, we will respond using those very weapons.”

Insisting that the military assets are “spoils of war” and now serve Afghanistan’s defense needs, the Taliban movement has reinforced its stance as Mujahid emphasized that the group will not negotiate on the matter while making it clear that no foreign power can dictate terms to Afghanistan.

Experts argue that the abandoned weaponry has significantly strengthened the Taliban’s military, raising fears that it could be used against neighboring countries or fall into the hands of extremist groups, while critics blame the US withdrawal strategy for failing to prevent these risks, calling the decision to leave advanced military assets behind reckless and warning that it could further destabilize South and Central Asia

 

  • Afghanistan
  • prisoner
  • Taliban
  • US

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS