U.S. Weighs Swap With Taliban to Free American Hostages

The Biden administration is negotiating with the Taliban to exchange U.S. citizens detained in Afghanistan for at least one high-profile prisoner alleged to be an Osama bin Laden associate held in Guantanamo Bay.

- ALEXANDER WARD And BRETT FORREST

The Biden administration, which has been discussing a deal with the Taliban since at least July, told the group on Nov. 14 that the U.S. would release Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani, who the U.S. government alleges was a senior al Qaeda aide, if the Afghan rulers released George Glezman, Ryan Corbett and Mahmood Habibi, U.S. citizens seized in Afghanistan in 2022.

The Taliban counteroffered that day, seeking Rahim and two others in exchange for Glezman and Corbett. The Taliban deny holding Habibi.

President Biden had yet to decide on the proposal, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told House Foreign Affairs Committee members in a Dec. 17 classified session, attendees said in interviews with The Wall Street Journal.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R., Texas), the panel chair, expressed concern that it wasn't a good deal, one of the people said. McCaul's office declined to comment.

Roger Carstens, the administration's top hostage negotiator, recently completed a trip to Doha, Qatar, where he spoke with Taliban representatives about the U.S. citizens' release. A U.S. official said Carstens made a new, "significant offer" to the Taliban last weekend.

Afghanistan has proved a political thorn after Biden's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from the country led to a messy exit and the Taliban's return to power. Freeing one or more Afghan prisoners deemed a national security threat in exchange for U.S. civilians risks even more political fallout.

"The safety and security of Americans overseas is one of the Biden-Harris Administration's top priorities, and we are working around the clock to ensure George, Ryan and Mahmoud's safe return," said Sean Savett, a National Security Council spokesman.