Biden pledges to bring hostages home amid Taliban negotiations

In Afghanistan, families of three American citizens—George Glezmann, Ryan Corbett, and Mahmood Shah Habibi—held by the Taliban since 2022, have been pleading with the U.S. government for action. The Taliban confirmed it is holding Glezmann and Corbett but denied detaining Habibi. President Joe Biden recently spoke with the families to assure them that his administration is advocating for their release through ongoing negotiations with the Taliban. There is a proposed swap involving Afghan national Muhammad Rahim, a detainee at Guantanamo Bay and a close associate of Osama bin Laden. Biden's administration insists that a deal must include all three Americans. As the negotiations progress, the Taliban has countered with their own demands, including the release of certain Afghan detainees held by the U.S. The urgency of the situation has intensified as Biden's term nears its end, with families expressing fears about the time left to secure their loved ones' release. The complexities surrounding this potential prisoner exchange highlight the ongoing tensions and diplomatic challenges faced by the U.S. government in its dealings with the Taliban.