A U.S. soldier who had been held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly five years has been freed in a deal that includes the release of five Afghan detainees in US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
US Army Sergeant, Bowe Bergdahl, 28, was said to have been handed over to US forces in good health on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the five Afghan detainees have been released from the US prison at Guantanamo Bay and handed over to Qatar, which mediated the transfer.
Sgt. Bergdahl was the only US soldier being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The U.S. soldier is expected to be transferred to Bagram Air Field, the main US base in Afghanistan, and then on to the United States.
In his reaction, the U.S. President, Barack Obama, said Sgt. Bergdahl’s recovery “is a reminder of America’s unwavering commitment to leave no man or woman in uniform behind on the battlefield”.