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Bowe Bergdahl: Video shows US soldier handover Bowe Bergdahl: Video shows US soldier handover
(35 minutes later)
The Taliban have released a video showing the moment Sgt Bowe Bergdahl was handed over to US forces after five years in captivity in Afghanistan.The Taliban have released a video showing the moment Sgt Bowe Bergdahl was handed over to US forces after five years in captivity in Afghanistan.
The footage shows him sitting in a pick-up truck, before being walked to a helicopter in Khost province. The footage shows him sitting in a pick-up truck, before being walked to a helicopter in a Khost province valley.
The US soldier was freed on Saturday in exchange for the release of five Guantanamo Bay detainees. The US soldier was freed on Saturday in exchange for the release of five senior Taliban figures from Guantanamo Bay.
The deal has caused controversy in the US, with Republicans warning it could put American lives at risk.The deal has caused controversy in the US, with Republicans warning it could put American lives at risk.
The army has said it will review the circumstances surrounding Sgt Bergdahl's capture in 2009.
The top-ranking US military officer, Gen Martin Dempsey, also raised the possibility that the soldier could be prosecuted if he had abandoned his post before his seizure.
Sgt Bergdahl, from Hailey, Idaho, is in a stable condition in a military hospital in Germany.
Bilal Sarwary, BBC News, KabulBilal Sarwary, BBC News, Kabul
Local sources in Khost have told the BBC that members of the Haqqani network handed over Sgt Bowe Bergdahl in the remote valley of Betani, 40km (25 miles) from Pakistan's Waziristan region.Local sources in Khost have told the BBC that members of the Haqqani network handed over Sgt Bowe Bergdahl in the remote valley of Betani, 40km (25 miles) from Pakistan's Waziristan region.
The area is controlled by the group and its commander, Mullah Tajmir, who served as a senior intelligence official during the Taliban regime, and has close ties to Sirajuddin Haqqani and Taliban leader Mullah Omar.The area is controlled by the group and its commander, Mullah Tajmir, who served as a senior intelligence official during the Taliban regime, and has close ties to Sirajuddin Haqqani and Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
The US has long described the Haqqani group as a major threat. The network - which has also links to al-Qaeda - has carried out a series of high-profile attacks against foreign troops in Afghanistan. The Pakistan-based militant network was designated a terrorist group by the US in 2012, making it subject to sanctions.The US has long described the Haqqani group as a major threat. The network - which has also links to al-Qaeda - has carried out a series of high-profile attacks against foreign troops in Afghanistan. The Pakistan-based militant network was designated a terrorist group by the US in 2012, making it subject to sanctions.
White flagWhite flag
The video, released on Wednesday, shows the soldier dressed in traditional Afghan clothing as he sits waiting in the truck.The video, released on Wednesday, shows the soldier dressed in traditional Afghan clothing as he sits waiting in the truck.
Several armed men with covered faces are seen standing next to the vehicle and on the hillside.Several armed men with covered faces are seen standing next to the vehicle and on the hillside.
A Black Hawk helicopter then lands and the Taliban fighters - one of whom carries a stick with a white flag - lead Sgt Bergdahl to a meeting point where he is being taken away by US forces.A Black Hawk helicopter then lands and the Taliban fighters - one of whom carries a stick with a white flag - lead Sgt Bergdahl to a meeting point where he is being taken away by US forces.
The exchange took place in Ali Sher district of Khost province near the Pakistan border.The exchange took place in Ali Sher district of Khost province near the Pakistan border.
Since Sgt Bergdahl's release, a growing chorus of opposition Republicans have criticised President Barack Obama's decision to agree to the prisoner swap.Since Sgt Bergdahl's release, a growing chorus of opposition Republicans have criticised President Barack Obama's decision to agree to the prisoner swap.
They have described it as a deal with terrorists, and say the transfer of five Taliban senior prisoners from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Qatar, endangers Americans.They have described it as a deal with terrorists, and say the transfer of five Taliban senior prisoners from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Qatar, endangers Americans.
Some also accused Mr Obama of contravening a law requiring the White House to notify Congress 30 days in advance of any transfers of prisoners from Guantanamo.Some also accused Mr Obama of contravening a law requiring the White House to notify Congress 30 days in advance of any transfers of prisoners from Guantanamo.
'Sacred rule''Sacred rule'
But the president defended his decision, saying America had a "pretty sacred rule" not to leave soldiers behind. But the president has defended his decision, saying America had a "pretty sacred rule" not to leave soldiers behind.
"We don't leave our men or women in uniform behind and that dates back to the earliest days," he said."We don't leave our men or women in uniform behind and that dates back to the earliest days," he said.
The administration argued that delaying the soldier's transfer to comply with congressional rules could have put the deal at risk. The administration has argued that delaying the soldier's transfer to comply with congressional rules could have put the deal at risk.
The exchange has received support from Admiral Mike Mullen, who was chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff when Sgt Bergdahl was captured. The circumstances of Sgt Bergdahl's capture in 2009 remain unclear, although the Pentagon has concluded he left his post in Paktika Province without authorisation.
In the days following his release, a number of conservative commentators and former US soldiers have branded him a deserter and called for him to be punished.
And critics of the deal have alleged that six US soldiers were killed in the initial efforts to locate the missing man.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said the Army would conduct a "comprehensive review" of the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
In closing remarks at a Nato summit in Brussels, Mr Hagel said the first priority was to get the soldier - currently in a stable condition in hospital - well and re-unified with his family.
The US defence chief also said he was unaware of "specific circumstances or details of US soldiers dying as a result of efforts to find and rescue Sgt Bergdahl".
Adm Mike Mullen, who was chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff when Sgt Bergdahl was captured, has also defended the prisoner swap.
"In every war at some point in time, you do sit down and negotiate," he told the BBC."In every war at some point in time, you do sit down and negotiate," he told the BBC.
"I was encouraged by the fact that at least the Taliban could sit down, conduct a negotiation, and in fact, come to some conclusion. So there may be a possibility to resolve this long term in those kind of negotiations.""I was encouraged by the fact that at least the Taliban could sit down, conduct a negotiation, and in fact, come to some conclusion. So there may be a possibility to resolve this long term in those kind of negotiations."
The circumstances of Sgt Bergdahl's capture remain unclear, with speculation he may have walked away from his base out of disillusionment with the US campaign.
"When he is able to provide the facts, we'll learn what happened," said Gen Dempsey, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"Like any American, he is innocent until proven guilty. Our army's leaders will not look away from misconduct if it occurred. In the meantime, we will continue to care for him and his family."
Sgt Bergdahl's parents - who have relentlessly campaigned for his release - earlier confirmed they still had not spoken to their son.Sgt Bergdahl's parents - who have relentlessly campaigned for his release - earlier confirmed they still had not spoken to their son.
His father said he would be flown to an army medical centre in Texas following medical treatment in Germany.His father said he would be flown to an army medical centre in Texas following medical treatment in Germany.
Who are the freed Guantanamo detainees?