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| Taliban-held U.S. soldier released in exchange for Afghan detainees | Taliban-held U.S. soldier released in exchange for Afghan detainees |
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| U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only U.S. service member known to be held hostage in Afghanistan, was handed over Saturday morning by members of the Taliban in exchange for five Afghan detainees held at the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, U.S. officials said. | U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only U.S. service member known to be held hostage in Afghanistan, was handed over Saturday morning by members of the Taliban in exchange for five Afghan detainees held at the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, U.S. officials said. |
| The deal was brokered by the government of Qatar, which has agreed to host the five Taliban inmates in the Gulf emirate for at least one year. The men were en route to Qatar aboard a U.S. military aircraft as of early Saturday afternoon, a defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. They were being accompanied by representatives of the Qatari government. | The deal was brokered by the government of Qatar, which has agreed to host the five Taliban inmates in the Gulf emirate for at least one year. The men were en route to Qatar aboard a U.S. military aircraft as of early Saturday afternoon, a defense official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. They were being accompanied by representatives of the Qatari government. |
| After the soldier was aboard a helicopter, he grabbed a paper plate and wrote the letters “SF?” to inquire whether the troops he was with were Special Forces, a senior Defense Department official said. | After the soldier was aboard a helicopter, he grabbed a paper plate and wrote the letters “SF?” to inquire whether the troops he was with were Special Forces, a senior Defense Department official said. |
| “Yes,” one of the members of the team responded. “We’ve been looking for you for a long time.” | “Yes,” one of the members of the team responded. “We’ve been looking for you for a long time.” |
| Bergdahl broke down in tears. | Bergdahl broke down in tears. |
| In an appearance Saturday evening in the Rose Garden with Bergdahl’s parents, President Obama said the United States had worked for “several years” to obtain Bergdahl’s release, and thanked Qatar for its assistance. | In an appearance Saturday evening in the Rose Garden with Bergdahl’s parents, President Obama said the United States had worked for “several years” to obtain Bergdahl’s release, and thanked Qatar for its assistance. |
| “He wasn't forgotten by his country because the United States of America does not ever leave our men and women in uniform behind,” Obama said. “Right now, our top priority is making sure Bowe gets the care and support he needs” | |
| Recovering Bergdahl had become an increasingly urgent priority for the U.S. military as the imminent end of the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan, scheduled for December, dimmed the prospects of his freedom. | Recovering Bergdahl had become an increasingly urgent priority for the U.S. military as the imminent end of the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan, scheduled for December, dimmed the prospects of his freedom. |
| “It is our ethos that we never leave a fallen comrade,” Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a statement. “Today we have back in our ranks the only remaining captured soldier from our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Welcome home Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.” | “It is our ethos that we never leave a fallen comrade,” Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a statement. “Today we have back in our ranks the only remaining captured soldier from our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Welcome home Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.” |
| Washington and Doha signed a memorandum of understanding recently spelling out the terms under which the Afghan inmates would be released. The men will remain in Doha for at least a year, but it was not clear what travel or movement restrictions they might face beyond that. | Washington and Doha signed a memorandum of understanding recently spelling out the terms under which the Afghan inmates would be released. The men will remain in Doha for at least a year, but it was not clear what travel or movement restrictions they might face beyond that. |
| “The United States has coordinated closely with Qatar to ensure that security measures are in place and the national security of the United States will not be compromised,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement. “Sgt. Bergdahl’s return is a powerful reminder of the enduring, sacred commitment our nation makes to all those who serve in uniform.” | “The United States has coordinated closely with Qatar to ensure that security measures are in place and the national security of the United States will not be compromised,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in a statement. “Sgt. Bergdahl’s return is a powerful reminder of the enduring, sacred commitment our nation makes to all those who serve in uniform.” |
| Hagel informed members of Congress on Saturday about the prisoner swap deal. The administration is required by law to notify Congress about its intention to release Guantanamo detainees in advance. | Hagel informed members of Congress on Saturday about the prisoner swap deal. The administration is required by law to notify Congress about its intention to release Guantanamo detainees in advance. |
| “Due to a near-term opportunity to save Sergeant Bergdahl’s life, we moved as quickly as possible,” a senior administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to explain the timing of the congressional notification. “The administration determined that given these unique and exigent circumstances, such a transfer should go forward notwithstanding the notice requirement” in the law. | “Due to a near-term opportunity to save Sergeant Bergdahl’s life, we moved as quickly as possible,” a senior administration official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to explain the timing of the congressional notification. “The administration determined that given these unique and exigent circumstances, such a transfer should go forward notwithstanding the notice requirement” in the law. |
| The prisoner swap deal, which the Obama administration has pursued for several years, began gaining traction last fall after members of the Taliban indicated they were amenable to negotiating on that narrow issue, but through intermediaries. | The prisoner swap deal, which the Obama administration has pursued for several years, began gaining traction last fall after members of the Taliban indicated they were amenable to negotiating on that narrow issue, but through intermediaries. |
| Earlier this year, the administration sought to enhance the American offer of a prisoner exchange by proposing to release the five men simultaneously. Taliban representatives had objected to the previous proposed plan, under which the inmates would be turned over in stages in an effort to test whether the Taliban and the Qatari intermediaries could guarantee that the men would not return to militancy. | Earlier this year, the administration sought to enhance the American offer of a prisoner exchange by proposing to release the five men simultaneously. Taliban representatives had objected to the previous proposed plan, under which the inmates would be turned over in stages in an effort to test whether the Taliban and the Qatari intermediaries could guarantee that the men would not return to militancy. |
| Among the released inmates is Mullah Mohammad Fazl, a former Taliban deputy defense minister who arrived in Guantanamo on Jan. 11, 2002, along with the first wave of inmates imprisoned there. The others are Mohammad Nabi Omari, Khirullah Said Wali Khairkhwa, Mullah Norullah Noori and Abdul Haq Wasiq. | Among the released inmates is Mullah Mohammad Fazl, a former Taliban deputy defense minister who arrived in Guantanamo on Jan. 11, 2002, along with the first wave of inmates imprisoned there. The others are Mohammad Nabi Omari, Khirullah Said Wali Khairkhwa, Mullah Norullah Noori and Abdul Haq Wasiq. |
| Bergdahl, who was believed to be in the custody of the Haqqani network, a hard-line faction of the Taliban, was handed over peacefully to a team of Special Operations troops in an unspecified location in Afghanistan, U.S. officials said. | Bergdahl, who was believed to be in the custody of the Haqqani network, a hard-line faction of the Taliban, was handed over peacefully to a team of Special Operations troops in an unspecified location in Afghanistan, U.S. officials said. |
| The soldier, who went missing after walking off his base in June 2009, appeared to be in relatively good health and was walking when U.S. troops swooped down in helicopters to meet his captors. | The soldier, who went missing after walking off his base in June 2009, appeared to be in relatively good health and was walking when U.S. troops swooped down in helicopters to meet his captors. |
| U.S. officials said they are hopeful this step could open the door for the resumption of peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, but they cautioned that the militant group has not indicated it is willing to engage in broader negotiations. | U.S. officials said they are hopeful this step could open the door for the resumption of peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, but they cautioned that the militant group has not indicated it is willing to engage in broader negotiations. |
| In Bergdahl’s hometown of Hailey, Idaho, there was jubilation Saturday. Residents had been planning a June 28 concert to call attention to his plight. They were expecting up to 7,000 people to attend, and singer Carole King was going to perform for free. | In Bergdahl’s hometown of Hailey, Idaho, there was jubilation Saturday. Residents had been planning a June 28 concert to call attention to his plight. They were expecting up to 7,000 people to attend, and singer Carole King was going to perform for free. |
| The concert will go on, said organizer Stefanie O’Neill, but it is now going to be “the biggest welcome-home party the country has ever seen.” | The concert will go on, said organizer Stefanie O’Neill, but it is now going to be “the biggest welcome-home party the country has ever seen.” |
| Karen DeYoung, traveling in Asia with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and Anne Gearan and Julie Tate in Washington contributed to this report. | Karen DeYoung, traveling in Asia with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and Anne Gearan and Julie Tate in Washington contributed to this report. |