Biden spoke to families of Americans detained in Afghanistan

The US has been negotiating with the Taliban to exchange three Americans for a high-profile prisoner held in Guantanamo Bay

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Taliban security personnel in Kabul. File photo: AFP

Published: 5:14am, 13 Jan 2025Updated: 2:28pm, 13 Jan 2025

US President Joe Biden on Sunday spoke to the families of three Americans detained in Afghanistan by its Taliban rulers since 2022, and emphasised his commitment to bringing home Americans wrongfully held overseas, the White House said.

Biden’s administration has been negotiating with the Taliban since at least July about a US proposal to exchange the three Americans – Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi – for Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani, a high-profile prisoner held in Guantanamo Bay, Reuters reported last week, citing a source familiar with the discussions.

Efforts to secure the release of the Americans continue, a second source familiar with the initiative said on Sunday.

Corbett and Habibi were detained in separate incidents in August 2022 a year after the Taliban seized Kabul amid the chaotic US troop withdrawal. Glezmann was detained later in 2022 while visiting as a tourist.

Ryan Corbett with his daughter Miriam and son Caleb in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2020. File photo: AP

Ahmad Habibi, Mahmood Habibi’s brother, who was on the call on Sunday, welcomed the discussion with Biden.

“President Biden was very clear in telling us that he would not trade Rahim if the Taliban do not let my brother go,” he said. “He said he would not leave him behind. My family is very grateful that he is standing up for my brother.”