US soldier freed from captivity in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (KABC) -- U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is now safely in the hands of U.S. Troops. The Taliban turned him over in exchange for the release of five detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Obama administration officials said Saturday.
Jani Bergdahl and her husband Bob Bergdahl joined President Barack Obama at the White House Saturday afternoon after learning that their 28-year-son had been released by the Taliban after nearly five years in captivity.
"Sgt. Bergdahl has missed birthdays and holidays and the simple moments with family and friends, which all of us take for granted, but while Bowe was gone, he was never forgotten," Obama said in a statement from the White House Rose Garden.
Bergdahl was turned over to several dozen U.S. special operations forces by approximately 18 Taliban members near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border Saturday. The military units were backed by multiple helicopters and surveillance aircraft.
A senior defense officials says that when Bergdahl boarded the noisy helicopter he took a pen and wrote on a paper plate, "SF?" - asking the troops if they were special operations forces.
Their response over the roar of the rotors? "Yes, we've been looking for you for a long time."
The 28-year-old then allegedly broke down in tears, according to the official.
Bergdahl, a native of Hailey, Idaho, was captured by the Haqqani network on June 30, 2009. Haqqani has been one of the deadliest threats to U.S. troops in the war. The network, which the State Department designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 2012, claims allegiance to the Afghan Taliban, yet operates with some degree of autonomy.
During his lengthy imprisonment, the Taliban sent out a video in which Bergdahl was seen pleading for his freedom.
"I'm scared. I'm scared, I won't be able to go home," he said in the video.
On Saturday, it was announced Bergdahl was handed over in exchange for the release of five Afghan prisoners held by the U.S. at Guantanamo Bay.
The detainees are believed to be the most senior Afghans still held at the prison:
- Abdul Haq Wasiq, who served as the Taliban deputy minister of intelligence
- Mullah Norullah Nori, a senior Taliban commander in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif when the Taliban fought U.S. forces in late 2001
- Khairullah Khairkhwa, who served in various Taliban positions including interior minister and had direct ties to Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden
- Mohammed Nabi, who served as chief of security for the Taliban in Qalat, Afghanistan, and later worked as a radio operator for the Taliban's communications office in Kabul
- Mohammad Fazl, whom Human Rights Watch says could be prosecuted for war crimes for presiding over the mass killing of Shiite Muslims in Afghanistan in 2000 and 2001 as the Taliban sought to consolidate their control over the country.
The agreement was reached during secret negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban with the government of Qatar. Under the agreement, Qatar will take custody of the detainees.
Officials say Bergdahl was initially taken to Bagram Air Field, the main U.S. base in Afghanistan, but was later transferred to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for additional care before he returns to the U.S. Bergdahl was tentatively scheduled to go to the San Antonio Military Medical Center where he would be reunited with his family.
The circumstances surrounding Bergdahl's capture in 2009 remain a mystery. There has been speculation that he willingly walked away from his unit, raising the question of whether he could be charged with being absent without leave or desertion.
"His family released emails sent home which very much indicated that he was disenchanted with the Army and disenchanted with being over in Afghanistan," said retired Marine Reserve Lt Hal Kempfer.
In Hailey, Bergdahl's hometown, yellow ribbons have been placed everywhere. Residents had been preparing for their annual "Bring Back Bowe" rally. Now, the coffee shop where Bowe once worked and the entire town is looking forward to a welcome home celebration.
Bergdahl's parents say they never gave up hope for his return home. They were on a previously scheduled visit in Washington when they received a call Saturday from Obama information them that their son had been freed.
Bob says he grew a long, thick beard to honor his son and learned some Pashto, the language spoken by the Taliban. He said his son was having trouble speaking English after his rescue and delivered him a message in that language.
The Associated Press contributed to this return.
