President Biden commends the return of abducted engineer Mark Frerichs.
Early this week, the Taliban freed American engineer Mark Frerichs in exchange for tribal leader Bashir Noorzai. Frerichs was abducted by the Taliban in 2020 while working in Afghanistan, and Noorzai was detained by the United States in 2005 and sentenced to life in prison for smuggling $50 million worth of heroin into the United States and Europe.
President Biden did not himself confirm the release of Noorzai, but did highlight his administration’s efforts. He stated, “Bringing the negotiations that led to Mark’s freedom to a successful resolution required difficult decisions, which I did not take lightly.”
Frerichs’ family expressed gratitude for the hostage swap. “There were some folks arguing against the deal that brought Mark home, but President Biden did what was right,” his sister Charlene Cakora stated.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the president and his advisors to have prudence in their approach to international activities.
- For Secretary of State Blinken to seek God’s wisdom as he oversees diplomatic efforts.
- With gratitude that the American engineer has returned home to his family.
Sources: NY Times, Reuters
