Biden Talks to Families of Americans Held by Taliban Amid Ongoing Negotiations

President Biden reached out to families of Americans held by the Taliban, but a resolution remains uncertain as negotiations continue

Biden Talks to Families of Americans Held by Taliban Amid Ongoing Negotiations
Biden Talks to Families of Americans Held by Taliban Amid Ongoing Negotiations

Washington: President Biden had a chat on Sunday with the families of three Americans the U.S. is trying to bring back from Afghanistan. But it’s still unclear if a deal can be struck before he leaves office next week.

During the call, Biden spoke with the families of Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann, and Mahmoud Habibi. They’re hoping for a deal that might involve trading one of the remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Muhammad Rahim.

Corbett was taken by the Taliban in August 2022 while on a business trip, and Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, was captured in December 2022. Habibi, an Afghan American businessman, also went missing in 2022 while working in Kabul.

Currently, the Taliban is believed to be holding all three men. The FBI has reported that Habibi and his driver were taken along with 29 other employees, but only a few have been released since then.

Complicating matters, the Taliban denies having Habibi, which makes negotiations tricky. Biden made it clear during the call that he wouldn’t agree to trade Rahim unless the Taliban releases Habibi.

Ahmad Habibi, Mahmoud’s brother, shared that Biden assured them he wouldn’t leave his brother behind. The family is thankful for his support.

Ryan Fayhee, a lawyer for Corbett’s family, expressed gratitude for the call but urged Biden to act on the deal. He emphasized that the decision rests solely with the President.

If a deal isn’t reached before January 20, the incoming Trump administration will have to take over negotiations, and it’s uncertain how they would approach the situation.

Currently, only 15 men remain at Guantanamo, a significant drop from nearly 800 during George W. Bush’s presidency. Rahim is one of three detainees who have never been charged but are still considered a threat to national security.

Despite being held for 17 years, no formal charges have been made against Rahim, and he’s been kept under wraps by successive administrations.

His attorney recently claimed that Rahim is being “systematically silenced” by the U.S., with every word he says classified for national security reasons.

In a previous swap, the Biden administration exchanged a convicted Taliban drug lord for an American contractor held for over two years.

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