Biden Engages Families of Americans Captive with Taliban, Yet Path to Their Return Remains Unclear

Officials confirm that three Americans were abducted by the Taliban in 2022. President Joe Biden recently spoke with their families as efforts to negotiate a deal to secure their return continue.

During the call, Biden addressed the relatives of Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann, and Mahmoud Habibi. There is uncertainty about whether an agreement can be finalized before the end of his presidency next week.

Corbett, who was on a business trip, was captured by the Taliban in August 2022. Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta, was abducted in December of the same year. Habibi, an Afghan American contractor, was also taken in 2022, alongside other employees of a Kabul-based telecommunications firm.

According to the FBI, while most of Habibi’s colleagues have been released, he and one other individual remain missing. The Taliban has disputed claims of Habibi’s captivity, further complicating the negotiations with the U.S. government.

In the discussions, Biden emphasized that he would not agree to trade Muhammad Rahim, a detainee at Guantanamo Bay since 2008, unless Habibi is released. Ahmad Habibi confirmed Biden’s commitment to not leaving his brother behind.

Ryan Fayhee, representing Corbett’s family, expressed appreciation for the president’s engagement while urging quick action on the proposed deal. He stated that the decision now rests solely with the president and highlighted the urgency of the situation.

If the negotiations are not completed before January 20, the responsibility will shift to the incoming Trump administration, raising questions about their approach to the issue.

Currently, only 15 detainees remain at Guantanamo, a significant reduction from nearly 800 at the peak of detentions. Rahim stands out as one of three detainees not officially charged but still considered a threat to U.S. national security.

Despite never facing charges, Rahim has been identified by U.S. authorities as a close associate of Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders. His attorney has recently accused the U.S. of systematically silencing him, citing that all his communications are classified for national security reasons.

This context adds complexity to the ongoing negotiations and the possible ramifications for American lives at stake.

The Biden administration previously completed a trade in September 2022, exchanging a convicted Taliban figure for an American contractor who had been held captive for over two years.

Associated Press writer Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report.