Taliban offer to hand over captured US soldier in exchange for Guantanamo inmates

The Afghan Taliban have offered to hand over a US soldier held captive since 2009 in exchange for five of their own currently incarcerated at Guantanamo Bay.

It came as the US was trying to save peace talks with the Taliban which have been held up following angry complaints by Afghan president Hamid Karzai.

A Taliban spokesman, Shaheen Suhail, said US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl “is as far as I know in good condition.”

Speaking to the Associated Press from the Taliban’s new office in Doha, Qatar, Mr Suhail said: “First has to be the release of detainees,” after which the Taliban “want to build bridges of confidence.”

He offered no details on Bergdahl’s current whereabouts, though recent reports said it is believed he is being held in Pakistan.

Peace talks were halted after Mr Karzai expressed anger that the Taliban had hung a flag outside their new office and signposted it the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan”, the name the extremists used when they held power.

He immediately threatened to boycott the process unless militants end their violence and the US pulls out of negotiations with the Taliban.

A statement released by the Afghan presidential palace said: “The latest developments show that foreign hands are behind the Taliban’s Qatar office and, unless they are purely Afghan-led, the High Peace Council will not participate in talks.”

US Secretary of State John Kerry twice called Mr Karzai to defuse tensions and the Taliban removed the office sign and flag.

But today, Afghan peace negotiators said they are still unhappy with proceedings.

“It is a kind of Taliban establishment which we don’t want,” Muhammad Ismael Qasemyar, a member of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, told the BBC.

In Idaho a rally was due to be held on Saturday to mark the fourth anniversary of Sgt Bowe Bergdahl’s capture.

The 27-year-old’s parents, Jani and Bob Bergdahl, will speak, along with Idaho Michelle Stennett and Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall.

A procession of hundreds of motorcycles will ride to the town ahead of the event and a tree dedication will take place.