The leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan has hailed the release of 5 Taliban members from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for a captured US soldier as a “big victory”, reported the BBC, after the swap took place on Saturday.
Mullah Mohammad Omar, the head of the Taliban, issued a rare statement praising the transfer and extending his “heartfelt congratulations to the entire Afghan Muslim nation”.
In the transfer deal, US Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured by the Taliban in 2009 was released in exchange for 5 men, who are thought to be the most senior Afghans from the Taliban being held at Guantanamo Bay.
Negotiations over the deal reportedly started 3 years ago, with the US meeting Taliban officials in Qatar, despite efforts from the Afghan government to block the talks. US officials reported that the Afghan government was not told of the deal beforehand.
The deal also drew criticism from US Republicans, who alleged that Congress were not sufficiently notified about the deal beforehand. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel though defended the move, adding it had to be done quick "essentially to save his life".
Read more from the BBC here and New York Times here.
Mullah Mohammad Omar, the head of the Taliban, issued a rare statement praising the transfer and extending his “heartfelt congratulations to the entire Afghan Muslim nation”.
In the transfer deal, US Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured by the Taliban in 2009 was released in exchange for 5 men, who are thought to be the most senior Afghans from the Taliban being held at Guantanamo Bay.
Negotiations over the deal reportedly started 3 years ago, with the US meeting Taliban officials in Qatar, despite efforts from the Afghan government to block the talks. US officials reported that the Afghan government was not told of the deal beforehand.
The deal also drew criticism from US Republicans, who alleged that Congress were not sufficiently notified about the deal beforehand. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel though defended the move, adding it had to be done quick "essentially to save his life".
Read more from the BBC here and New York Times here.