WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden spoke Sunday with kinfolk of three Americans the U.S. authorities is attempting to deliver house from Afghanistan, nevertheless it was not clear from the decision whether or not the deal to deliver them again, now on the desk, could possibly be accomplished earlier than your departure. workplace subsequent week.
Biden’s telephone name with the relations of Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann and Mahmoud Habibi got here within the ultimate days of his administration as officers tried to barter a deal that would deliver them house in alternate for Muhammad Rahim, one of many remaining detainees at Guantanamo Bay .
Corbett, who had been dwelling in Afghanistan together with his household on the time of the collapse of the U.S.-backed authorities in 2021, was kidnapped by the Taliban in August 2022 whereas on a enterprise journey and Glezmann, an airline mechanic from Atlanta , was picked up by the Taliban intelligence providers in December 2022 whereas touring throughout the nation.
Officials consider the Taliban are nonetheless holding each males and Habibi, an Afghan American businessman who labored as a contractor for a Kabul-based telecommunications firm and who disappeared in 2022. The FBI stated Habibi and his driver have been captured together with him. Another 29 firm staff, however all besides Habibi and one different individual have been launched.
The Taliban has denied proudly owning Habibi, complicating talks with the US authorities.
During Sunday’s telephone name, Biden informed the households that his administration wouldn’t alternate Rahim, held at Guantanamo since 2008, until the Taliban launched Habibi, in accordance with a press release from Habibi’s brother, Ahmad Habibi.
“President Biden was very clear in telling us that he wouldn’t commerce Rahim if the Taliban didn’t let my brother go,” the assertion stated. “He stated he would not go away him behind. My household could be very grateful that he’s standing up for my brother.”
Ryan Fayhee, an legal professional performing on behalf of Corbett’s kinfolk, stated the household was grateful to Biden for the decision but additionally implored him to honor the settlement.
“A deal is now on the desk and the choice to just accept it, nonetheless imperfect it might be, rests solely with the president,” Fayhee stated in a press release. “Difficult choices make nice presidents, and we hope and consider that President Biden won’t enable perfection to be the enemy of the great when American lives are at stake.”
If a deal is not reached earlier than Jan. 20, it will likely be as much as the brand new Trump administration to start negotiations, although it is unclear whether or not officers will take a distinct method in the case of releasing a Guantanamo detainee the U.S. authorities considers a hazard .
Only 15 males stay at Guantanamo, in comparison with a peak of practically 800 beneath former President George W. Bush.
Rahim is certainly one of solely three remaining detainees who have been by no means charged, however who by no means felt it was secure for the United States to think about switch to different international locations, because it has accomplished with a whole lot of different Muslim detainees dropped at Guantanamo however by no means charged.
The United States has described Rahim as a direct advisor, courier, and agent to Osama bin Laden and different senior al-Qaeda figures and a unbroken menace to U.S. nationwide safety, regardless of by no means charging him or in any other case formally making public any check in opposition to Rahim in his 17 years. in Guantanamo.
Successive US administrations have saved Rahim hidden to a notable diploma, together with by military-run detention at Guantánamo.
His lawyer, James Connell, just lately informed a United Nations human rights fee that Rahim was being “systematically silenced” by the United States. Connell informed the identical committee {that a} US official had informed him “each phrase Rahim says on any topic is assessed on the premise of nationwide safety.”
The Biden administration in September 2022 exchanged a convicted Taliban drug lord imprisoned within the United States for an American civilian contractor who had been detained by the Taliban for greater than two years.
Associated Press author Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.
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