Biden’s administration has been negotiating with the Taliban since at least July about a US proposal to exchange the three Americans – Ryan Corbett, George Glezmann and Mahmood Habibi – for Muhammad Rahim al-Afghani, a high-profile prisoner held in Guantanamo Bay, Reuters reported last week, citing a source familiar with the discussions.
Efforts to secure the release of the Americans continue, a second source familiar with the initiative said on Sunday.
Ahmad Habibi, Mahmood Habibi’s brother, who was on the call on Sunday, welcomed the discussion with Biden.
“President Biden was very clear in telling us that he would not trade Rahim if the Taliban do not let my brother go,” he said. “He said he would not leave him behind. My family is very grateful that he is standing up for my brother.”
The Taliban, which denies holding Habibi, had countered the US proposal with an offer to exchange Glezmann and Corbett for Rahim and two others, one of the sources told Reuters last week.