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(Zero Hedge)—For the first time in years, the Taliban says it has arrested and imprisoned American citizens, and is hoping to use them in a prisoner swap. The Taliban says that at least two US citizens are being held after violating Afghan laws, while the Washington Examiner has said three are in custody.
The detained individuals have been identified as George Glezmann, Mahmood Habibi, and Ryan Corbett – as confirmed also by a State Department statement. A Taliban government spokesperson announced that the “American nationals violated the country’s law, and discussion has been held with the US officials in this regard.”
And Taliban chief spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid recently told reporters in Kabul that “the topic of a prisoner release was discussed during his recent meeting with US officials in Doha, continuing a recurring theme in their negotiations.”
“Afghanistan’s conditions must be met. We have our citizens who are imprisoned in the US and Guantanamo,” Mujahid stated. “We should free our prisoners in exchange for them. Just as their prisoners are important to America, Afghans are equally important to us,” he added.
It as yet unclear what precise charges the men are being held on, but Afghan national media has alluded to the possibility of “espionage” – which would be a very serious accusation, possibly resulting in a capital case.
Both Glezmann and Corbett were initially detained in 2022, with the former having previously described he was on a tour of the country’s unique cultural landscape and history. US officials have complained that the American nationals are being held without charge or due process. Less is known about the third person who might be in custody, Muhammed Habibi, who is a US-Afghan dual citizen.
The Taliban has exercised complete control over the war-torn, central Asian country since the US coalition pullout of August 2021, which by all accounts was chaotic and resulted in both US military and Afghan civilian deaths.
The US State Department has since then designated Afghanistan as a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” country for American citizens.
An official alert says the risk of detention for foreign travelers is high. “Multiple terrorist groups are active in country and U.S. citizens are targets of kidnapping and wrongful detentions. The Department has assessed that there is a risk of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens by the Taliban,” the US State Dept. says.
According to sources, Taliban’s Minister of Interior, Sirajuddin Haqqani, is set to meet US security officials during his visit to the #UAE.#Taliban are currently holding several Americans in their prisons, among them Ryan Corbett & George Glezmann. Paul Overby also disappeared… pic.twitter.com/UMy85zPONK
— Hostage Aid Worldwide (@HostageAid) June 6, 2024
“The Taliban have harassed and detained aid and humanitarian workers. The activities of foreigners may be viewed with suspicion, and reasons for detention may be unclear. Even if you are registered with the appropriate authorities to conduct business, the risk of detention is high,” the notification says.
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Does Donald Trump REALLY Have This Election “In the Bag”?
by JD Rucker
No. Stop it. Remember 2020. Remember the tens of millions of illegal aliens, 14% of whom are apparently registering to vote. Remember that while most states can report results in less than a day, for some reason battleground states like Pennsylvania and Georgia are incapable of reporting for days or…
Daniel Penny Subway Chokehold Trial Begins
by Zero Hedge
Jordan Neely’s death in a crowded Manhattan subway car made worldwide headlines in May 2023, after bystander footage showed former Marine Daniel Penny restraining the erratic homeless man in a fatal chokehold. The case is finally set to go to trial, with jury selection beginning Monday. Penny, who has argued…
You Can’t Get Blood Out of a Stone: U.S. Consumers Have Been Squeezed Bone Dry as the U.S. Economy Falters
by Michael Snyder
(The Economic Collapse Blog)—A recent survey discovered that 79 percent of Americans believe that the U.S. is on the wrong track right now. As a nation, we may not agree on much, but this is one thing that almost all of us can agree on. Needless to say, the economy is…
US Investigating Leak of Israeli Attack Plans for Iran
by Publius
The United States government is currently engaged in an investigation concerning the unauthorized release of classified documents that detail Israel’s planned military attack against Iran, as reported by The Associated Press. These sensitive documents, attributed to both the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, indicate that Israel…
Bank of America Sees Gold Breaking $3,000 Sooner Rather Than Later
by Sponsored Post
Gold has recently experienced a remarkable resurgence, setting record highs and drawing renewed attention from both retail and institutional investors. This shift comes as traditional safe-haven assets are increasingly perceived to be under threat. Strategists at Bank of America suggest that investors, including central banks, should consider reallocating into gold…
Texas DPS Encounter Group of 30 Illegal Aliens with 3 Unaccompanied Minors and 3 Special Interest Illegals
by The Gateway Pundit
Texas DPS apprehended a group of 30 illegal aliens on Sunday in Maverick County. In the group were 3 unaccompanied minors and 3 illegals from the “special interest” countries of Iran and Guinea. Special interest refers to countries that pose a threat to United States national security including potential terrorist…
‘Nightmarish Scenario:” Creeps Can Produce AI-Generated Deepfake Nudes of Anyone With a Few Clicks
by Breitbart
Online AI chatbots are enabling users to generate explicit nude photos of real people with just a few clicks, raising alarms among experts about a looming “nightmarish scenario.” A recent investigation by Wired has uncovered a disturbing trend on the messaging app Telegram, where dozens of AI-powered chatbots are allowing…
Elon Musk Goes All-in for Trump at Huge Pittsburgh Rally, Says ‘Stakes Are Too High’ to Remain Politically Neutral
by The Post Millennial
Elon Musk was in Pennsylvania Sunday along with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to tell Keystone State voters that although he might “hate politics” he’s engaging in it right now because “the stakes are too high that … I feel I have no choice.” “Yeah, anyway, so I’m dramatically increasing…
Fake Meat Industry Now Demanding Public Subsidies Due to Lack of Customer Interest
by Ramon Tomey
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Dominion Voting Systems Issues a Chilling Warning to Conservatives Weeks Before the Election
by The Gateway Pundit
Dominion Voting Systems has issued a chilling warning to conservatives just weeks before the all-important presidential election. In a post on the X platform, the company said that it was “closely monitoring” claims that its machines may be compromised. “Dominion is closely monitoring claims around the Nov. 2024 election and…
Coward: Hamas Chief’s Bunker Loaded With UN Food, Millions in Cash, Weapons and More
by Red State
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Fire Departments Sued by Biden-Harris for Requiring Job Candidates to Learn How to Fight Fires
by The Gateway Pundit
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by Michael Snyder
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Iran Deserves Listing on Global Terror Finance and Money-Laundering Blacklist
by WND
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The All-Too-Short List of Conservative, Anti-Globalist Leaders
by The Gateway Pundit
As the world shifts leftward and increasingly embraces globalism, a handful of leaders remain as holdouts—conservative, anti-globalist figures who advocate for national sovereignty, economic protectionism, and opposition to globalist institutions such as the United Nations, the European Union, or multinational trade agreements. They frequently push for secure borders and immigration…
Prisoner exchange? Not only no, but HELL NO! Why were they in Afghanistan in the first place? Releasing dangerous terrorists to terrorize again is stupid. But then we’re talking about Biden supposedly making the decision. Everybody said this was going to happen when Joe Biden stupidly exchanged dangerous Russian spies for a lesbian basketball player who stated their hatred for America and broke Russian drug laws. (After hearing this person speak we’re not convinced she’s not a he.)