US soldier held by Taliban in Afghanistan freed in deal that includes release of five Afghans | |
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A US soldier who has been held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly five years has been freed in deal that includes the release of five Afghan detainees, US officials say.
US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, 28, was handed over to US forces in good health, the officials said.
The five Afghan detainees have been released from the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
They were handed over to Qatar, which mediated the transfer.
Sgt Bergdahl was the only US soldier being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
In a statement, President Barack Obama said Bergdahl's recovery "is a reminder of America's unwavering commitment to leave no man or woman in uniform behind on the battlefield''.
Officials said the Taliban had handed over Sgt Bergdahl over Saturday evening, local time, in eastern Afghanistan. Several dozen US special forces were involved in the exchange, they said, which took place near the Pakistani border.
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| A video grab image from 2010 showed Sgt Bergdahl in captivity |
He was in good condition and able to walk, and is expected to be transferred to Bagram Air Field, the main US base in Afghanistan, and then on to the United States.
Sgt Bergdahl, of Hailey, Idaho, had been held since 30 June 2009.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said Sgt Bergdahl would be given "all the support he needs to help him recover from this ordeal, and we are grateful that he will soon be reunited with his family".
He thanked the emir of Qatar for his role in enabling the transfer to take place.
On the five Guantanamo detainees, he said: "The United States has co-ordinated closely with Qatar to ensure that security measures are in place and the national security of the United States will not be compromised."
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