The
last United States prisoner of war from America’s
waning Afgan war, was handed over to US Special Operations forces in
Afghanistan on Saturday in a dramatic swap for five Taliban detainees who will
be handed over from Guantanamo Bay prison to Qatar.
Army
Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl had been held for nearly five years by Afghan militants
and his release followed years of on-off negotiations.
President
Barack Obama announced the release, saying he had called Bergdahl’s parents to let them know.
US
special forces took custody of Bergdahl in a non-violent exchange with 18
Taliban members in eastern Afghanistan, senior U.S. officials said, adding that
he was believed to be in good condition. He was now undergoing a medical
examination in Afghanistan.
Bergdahl,
28, was handed over at about 6 p.m. local time on Saturday, which was at
10:30am. Washington time, a senior official said. The US forces, who had flown
in by helicopter, were on the ground only briefly, said the officials, who
would not specify the precise location of the handover.
A
US defense official said Bergdahl was able to walk and became emotional on his
way to freedom.
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