Latest news with #Afghan-American
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
American George Glezmann freed by Taliban more than 2 years after arrest
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Thursday that American national George Glezmann was on his way back to the U.S. after being released by Afghanistan's Taliban rulers. Glezmann, an Atlanta native, had been in custody after being detained by Taliban authorities while on a tourist visit to Afghanistan in December 2022. He had been deemed wrongfully detained by the U.S. government. Rubio thanked Qatar, saying the nation's "steadfast commitment and diplomatic efforts were instrumental in securing George's release." His statement came after former U.S. government envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad posted a statement on X announcing Glezmann's release, which he called "a goodwill gesture" to President Trump by the Taliban. Mr. Trump, Khalilzad said, had "made the freedom and homecoming of Americans held abroad a high priority. It is an honor to assist in this important effort." "George joins American Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, who were released from Afghanistan on the night of President Trump's inauguration and returned home to their families," Rubio said in his statement, adding: "George's release is a positive and constructive step. It is also a reminder that other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will continue his tireless work to free ALL Americans unjustly detained around the world." Corbet and McKenty were released in January in exchange for a Taliban figure who had been imprisoned in California on drug trafficking and terrorism charges. Before President Joe Biden left office, his administration had also been working on a deal to secure the release of Corbett, Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-American businessman who worked as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications company and also went missing in 2022. The Taliban has denied holding Habibi. Since retaking control of Afghanistan following the U.S. military withdrawal in the summer of 2021, the Taliban movement has failed to gain international recognition as the country's rightful rulers. Most nations, including the U.S., have refused to engage in formal diplomatic relations due to the Taliban's draconian crackdown on human rights, which has seen the Islamic extremist group erase virtually every freedom granted to Afghan women and girls during the two decades of Western-backed governance. The Taliban regime has tried to show that, despite those domestic policies, it is aligned with the U.S. in its determination to rid Afghanistan of the threat posed by ISIS. A statement issued Thursday by Afghanistan's Taliban-run Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Glezmann's release "a goodwill gesture, reflecting Afghanistan's readiness to genuinely engage all sides, particularly the United States of America, on the basis of mutual respect and interests." "The end of conflict in Afghanistan, suppression of corrupt groups such as Daesh [ISIS], and no threat emanating from Afghanistan towards others, demonstrates that Afghanistan can play a positive role in regional and world stability, and is able to resolve its issues with the world on amicable terms," the statement said. Sneak peek: The Puzzling Death of Susann Sills Inside Trump's call with Vladimir Putin Teslas in Las Vegas set on fire and shot with guns in "targeted attack," police say
Boston Globe
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
American man held by the Taliban for more than 2 years has been released, the State Department says
The release of Glezmann is part of what the Taliban has previously described as the 'normalization' of ties between the US and Afghanistan following the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Most countries still don't recognize the Taliban's rule. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Glezmann's release follows a separate deal, arranged in the final days of the Biden administration and also mediated by the Qataris, that secured the releases of Ryan Corbett and William McKenty. The Taliban's Foreign Ministry in Kabul said at the time that those two U.S. citizens had been exchanged for Khan Mohammed, who was sentenced to two life terms in 2008 after being convicted under US narco-terrorism laws. Advertisement Unlike in that arrangement, the US did not give up any prisoner to secure Glezmann's release, which was seen as a goodwill gesture, according to an official briefed on the matter who insisted on anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations. The Taliban disclosed earlier Thursday that Boehler had been meeting on hostage issues with a delegation that included Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. President Joe Biden contemplated before he left office an earlier proposal that would have involved the release of Glezmann and other Americans for Muhammad Rahim, one of the remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But Biden told families during a call in January that he would not support trading Rahim unless the Taliban released Afghan-American businessman Mahmood Habibi. US officials believe the Taliban is holding Habibi, but the Taliban has denied it. Advertisement
Arab News
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Office overseeing Afghan resettlement in US told to start planning closure
WASHINGTON: The State Department office overseeing the resettlement of Afghans in the United States has been told to develop plans to close by April, according to a US official, a leading advocate and two sources familiar with the directive, a move that could deny up to an estimated 200,000 people new lives in America. Family members of Afghan-American US military personnel, children cleared to reunite with their parents, relatives of Afghans already admitted and tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the US government during the 20-year war are among those who could be turned away if the office is shut, the advocate and the US official said. 'Shutting this down would be a national disgrace, a betrayal of our Afghan allies, of the veterans who fought for them, and of America's word,' said Shawn VanDiver, founder of #AfghanEvac, the main coalition of veterans and advocacy groups and others that coordinates resettlements with the US government. The White House and the US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The development comes as the administration asks embassies worldwide to prepare staff cuts under a directive by US President Donald Trump to overhaul the diplomatic corps and billionaire Elon Musk's DOGE office pursues a government-wide drive to slash $2 trillion in spending. The Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, CARE, was set up during the chaotic US pullout from Afghanistan in August 2021 as a temporary effort to relocate to the US Afghans at risk of Taliban retaliation because they worked for the US government during the war. It became permanent in October 2022, expanded to Afghans granted refugee status, and has helped resettle some 118,000 people. VanDiver, the US official and the two sources said they did not know who ordered CARE to begin developing options to close. Those options would include shuttering processing centers CARE runs in Qatar and Albania where nearly 3,000 Afghans vetted for US resettlement as refugees or Special Immigration Visa (SIV) holders have been stranded for weeks or months. Those in the centers, including more than 20 unaccompanied minors bound for reunions with parents, live in modular housing. They receive food and other basic 'life support,' but a Trump-ordered foreign aid freeze has ended programs for mental health and children, one source said. According to both sources, the options for shuttering CARE are being prepared for Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, as well as Trump's national security adviser, Michael Waltz, a former US special forces soldier who fought in Afghanistan, are among those slated to make a final decision, they said. 'There are definitely all options (for closing CARE) being considered,' said the second source. Both requested anonymity for fear of retaliation by the Trump administration. The evacuation and resettlement operations have been stalled since Trump, who launched a promised immigration crackdown after taking office in January, halted pending 90-day reviews the US refugee program and foreign aid that funded flights to the US for Afghans cleared for resettlement. Trump ordered the reviews to determine the efficiency of the refugee and foreign aid programs and to ensure they align with his foreign policy. After rigorous background checks, SIVs are awarded to Afghans who worked for the US government during America's longest war. UN reports say the Taliban have jailed, tortured and killed Afghans who fought or worked for the former Western-backed government. The Taliban deny the allegations, pointing to a general amnesty approved for former government soldiers and officials. A permanent shutdown of CARE and the Enduring Welcome operations it oversees could leave up to an estimated 200,000 Afghans without paths to the US, said VanDiver and the US official. These comprise some 110,000 Afghans in Afghanistan whose SIV and refugee status applications are being reviewed and some 40,000 others who have been vetted and cleared for flights to Doha and Tirana before travel to the US. An estimated 50,000 other Afghans are marooned in nearly 90 other countries – about half in Pakistan – approved for US resettlement or awaiting SIV or refugee processing, they said.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Office overseeing Afghan resettlement in US told to start planning closure, sources say
By Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The State Department office overseeing the resettlement of Afghans in the United States has been told to develop plans to close by April, according to a U.S. official, a leading advocate and two sources familiar with the directive, a move that could deny up to an estimated 200,000 people new lives in America. Family members of Afghan-American U.S. military personnel, children cleared to reunite with their parents, relatives of Afghans already admitted and tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the U.S. government during the 20-year war are among those who could be turned away if the office is shut, the advocate and the U.S. official said. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'Shutting this down would be a national disgrace, a betrayal of our Afghan allies, of the veterans who fought for them, and of America's word,' said Shawn VanDiver, founder of #AfghanEvac, the main coalition of veterans and advocacy groups and others that coordinates resettlements with the U.S. government. The White House and the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The development comes as the administration asks embassies worldwide to prepare staff cuts under a directive by U.S. President Donald Trump to overhaul the diplomatic corps and billionaire Elon Musk's DOGE office pursues a government-wide drive to slash $2 trillion in spending. The Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, CARE, was set up during the chaotic U.S. pullout from Afghanistan in August 2021 as a temporary effort to relocate to the U.S. Afghans at risk of Taliban retaliation because they worked for the U.S. government during the war. It became permanent in October 2022, expanded to Afghans granted refugee status, and has helped resettle some 118,000 people. VanDiver, the U.S. official and the two sources said they did not know who ordered CARE to begin developing options to close. Those options would include shuttering processing centers CARE runs in Qatar and Albania where nearly 3,000 Afghans vetted for U.S. resettlement as refugees or Special Immigration Visa (SIV) holders have been stranded for weeks or months. Those in the centers, including more than 20 unaccompanied minors bound for reunions with parents, live in modular housing. They receive food and other basic 'life support,' but a Trump-ordered foreign aid freeze has ended programs for mental health and children, one source said. According to both sources, the options for shuttering CARE are being prepared for Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, as well as Trump's national security adviser, Michael Waltz, a former U.S. special forces soldier who fought in Afghanistan, are among those slated to make a final decision, they said. 'There are definitely all options (for closing CARE) being considered,' said the second source. Both requested anonymity for fear of retaliation by the Trump administration. The evacuation and resettlement operations have been stalled since Trump, who launched a promised immigration crackdown after taking office in January, halted pending 90-day reviews the U.S. refugee program and foreign aid that funded flights to the U.S. for Afghans cleared for resettlement. Trump ordered the reviews to determine the efficiency of the refugee and foreign aid programs and to ensure they align with his foreign policy. After rigorous background checks, SIVs are awarded to Afghans who worked for the U.S. government during America's longest war. UN reports say the Taliban have jailed, tortured and killed Afghans who fought or worked for the former Western-backed government. The Taliban deny the allegations, pointing to a general amnesty approved for former government soldiers and officials. A permanent shutdown of CARE and the Enduring Welcome operations it oversees could leave up to an estimated 200,000 Afghans without paths to the U.S., said VanDiver and the U.S. official. These comprise some 110,000 Afghans in Afghanistan whose SIV and refugee status applications are being reviewed and some 40,000 others who have been vetted and cleared for flights to Doha and Tirana before travel to the U.S. An estimated 50,000 other Afghans are marooned in nearly 90 other countries – about half in Pakistan – approved for U.S. resettlement or awaiting SIV or refugee processing, they said.
Reuters
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Exclusive: Office overseeing Afghan resettlement in US told to start planning closure, sources say
WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - The State Department office overseeing the resettlement of Afghans in the United States has been told to develop plans to close by April, according to a U.S. official, a leading advocate and two sources familiar with the directive, a move that could deny up to an estimated 200,000 people new lives in America. Family members of Afghan-American U.S. military personnel, children cleared to reunite with their parents, relatives of Afghans already admitted and tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the U.S. government during the 20-year war are among those who could be turned away if the office is shut, the advocate and the U.S. official said. 'Shutting this down would be a national disgrace, a betrayal of our Afghan allies, of the veterans who fought for them, and of America's word,' said Shawn VanDiver, founder of #AfghanEvac, the main coalition of veterans and advocacy groups and others that coordinates resettlements with the U.S. government. The White House and the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The development comes as the administration asks embassies worldwide to prepare staff cuts under a directive by U.S. President Donald Trump to overhaul the diplomatic corps and billionaire Elon Musk's DOGE office pursues a government-wide drive to slash $2 trillion in spending. The Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, CARE, was set up during the chaotic U.S. pullout from Afghanistan in August 2021 as a temporary effort to relocate to the U.S. Afghans at risk of Taliban retaliation because they worked for the U.S. government during the war. It became permanent in October 2022, expanded to Afghans granted refugee status, and has helped resettle some 118,000 people. VanDiver, the U.S. official and the two sources said they did not know who ordered CARE to begin developing options to close. Those options would include shuttering processing centers CARE runs in Qatar and Albania where nearly 3,000 Afghans vetted for U.S. resettlement as refugees or Special Immigration Visa (SIV) holders have been stranded for weeks or months. Those in the centers, including more than 20 unaccompanied minors bound for reunions with parents, live in modular housing. They receive food and other basic 'life support,' but a Trump-ordered foreign aid freeze has ended programs for mental health and children, one source said. According to both sources, the options for shuttering CARE are being prepared for Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, as well as Trump's national security adviser, Michael Waltz, a former U.S. special forces soldier who fought in Afghanistan, are among those slated to make a final decision, they said. 'There are definitely all options (for closing CARE) being considered,' said the second source. Both requested anonymity for fear of retaliation by the Trump administration. The evacuation and resettlement operations have been stalled since Trump, who launched a promised immigration crackdown after taking office in January, halted pending 90-day reviews the U.S. refugee program and foreign aid that funded flights to the U.S. for Afghans cleared for resettlement. Trump ordered the reviews to determine the efficiency of the refugee and foreign aid programs and to ensure they align with his foreign policy. After rigorous background checks, SIVs are awarded to Afghans who worked for the U.S. government during America's longest war. UN reports say the Taliban have jailed, tortured and killed Afghans who fought or worked for the former Western-backed government. The Taliban deny the allegations, pointing to a general amnesty approved for former government soldiers and officials. A permanent shutdown of CARE and the Enduring Welcome operations it oversees could leave up to an estimated 200,000 Afghans without paths to the U.S., said VanDiver and the U.S. official. These comprise some 110,000 Afghans in Afghanistan whose SIV and refugee status applications are being reviewed and some 40,000 others who have been vetted and cleared for flights to Doha and Tirana before travel to the U.S. An estimated 50,000 other Afghans are marooned in nearly 90 other countries – about half in Pakistan – approved for U.S. resettlement or awaiting SIV or refugee processing, they said.
