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Households of American hostages held by the Taliban in Afghanistan have requested Joe Biden “to do the correct factor” and produce the lads house earlier than he leaves workplace, after months of lobbying the outgoing president to dealer a take care of the hardline Islamist regime.
Three US residents – George Glezmann, Ryan Corbett and Mahmood Shah Habibi – are believed to have been within the Taliban’s custody since 2022. The Taliban has confirmed it’s holding two of the lads however constantly denied detaining Mr Habibi.
Mr Biden held a name with members of the family of all three American nationals on Sunday as his administration mentioned it was engaged on a deal that would deliver them house in change for Afghan nationwide Muhammad Rahim, a Guantanamo Bay detainee and an in depth aide of the late al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
Mr Biden “emphasised his administration’s dedication to the reason for bringing house Individuals held hostage and wrongfully detained abroad”, the White Home mentioned.
He advised the households that his administration wouldn’t commerce Mr Rahim, labelled a “high-value detainee” by the Division of Defence, except the Taliban releases Mr Habibi, members of the family advised The Impartial. Mr Rahim has been held at Guantanamo since 2008.
“In the course of the cellphone name with Mr Biden, he assured me that he won’t finalise the commerce except my brother is included,” Mr Habibi’s brother Ahmad Shah Habibi mentioned, including that the Taliban wished the al-Qaeda adviser in return.
“The US authorities is asking for three-to-three commerce, nevertheless they haven’t reached a conclusion but. President Biden mentioned negotiations are nonetheless occurring and he’ll attempt to shut the deal provided that that features all three Individuals together with my brother,” he mentioned.
Mr Rahim is likely one of the 15 remaining out of practically 800 males imprisoned at Guantanamo below former president George W Bush.
The Taliban had countered the US proposal with a proposal to change Mr Glezmann and Mr Corbett for Mr Rahim and two others, Reuters reported quoting a supply.
As soon as believed to be a direct adviser, courier and operative for Osama bin Laden and different senior al-Qaeda figures, Mr Rahim is taken into account too harmful for launch by the US authorities.
The Taliban’s chief spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid advised The Impartial that the matter of a prisoner change was presently below negotiation with the US, and with out naming Mr Rahim, he confirmed they need “sure” Afghans to be launched.
“We’ve our personal calls for and wish sure Afghans held by the Individuals to be launched; in return, we are going to launch the Individuals we’re holding. Nevertheless, there have to be an settlement on a mechanism for this change, which has not but been agreed but, however we stay in communication,” he mentioned in a press release to The Impartial.
Nevertheless, with solely days left till Mr Biden’s time period ends, one of many hostage’s household expressed fears that point is operating out. If the deal is just not finalised, the duty of bringing hostages again to America will likely be handed over to incoming president Donald Trump, who will probably be extra focussed on different international coverage priorities such because the wars in Ukraine and the Center East.
“I’m crushed that we appear no nearer to bringing Ryan house as we speak than we had been 886 days in the past. I as soon as once more name on President Biden to do the correct factor and produce Ryan and others house – the deal on the desk would try this,” mentioned Anna Corbett, the spouse of Ryan Corbett.
The White Home famous that Mr Biden has introduced house greater than 75 Individuals unjustly detained around the globe, together with from Myanmar, China, Gaza, Haiti, Iran, Russia, Rwanda, Venezuela and West Africa. His administration additionally introduced house all Individuals detained in Afghanistan earlier than the US army withdrawal, it mentioned.
A Senate intelligence committee report referred to as Mr Rahim an “al Qaeda facilitator” and mentioned he was arrested in Pakistan in June 2007 and “rendered” to the CIA the next month.
He was stored in a secret CIA “black web site” the place he was subjected to robust interrogation strategies, together with intensive sleep deprivation, after which despatched to Guantanamo Bay, the report mentioned.
Mr Biden final week despatched 11 Guantanamo detainees to Oman, lowering the prisoner inhabitants on the detention centre in Cuba by practically half as a part of his effort to shut the power because the president prepares to depart workplace on 20 January.
