Americans detained in Afghanistan remain a priority, says US State Dept

The United States raises the cases of three detained U.S. citizens in every engagement with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), and securing their release will remain a top priority, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Thursday.

Addressing a press briefing, Miller expressed concern about the well-being of Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi, saying they were unjustly detained. 

“We are deeply concerned about the well-being of Americans unjustly detained in Afghanistan – Mahmood, Ryan and George Glezmann – and raise their detentions at every engagement we have with the Taliban (IEA),” Miller said at a press briefing, ahead of the two-year anniversary of Corbett and Habibi’s detention on Aug. 10.

“Bringing them home will continue to be a top priority for the United States as we work to obtain their release,” Miller said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Corbett’s wife, Anna, in Washington this week, Miller said.

The Islamic Emirate, has confirmed that two Americans are imprisoned in Afghanistan and that they have discussed prisoner exchange with US officials.