US may consider Taliban prisoner swap
June 21, 2013 10:00
The US has not ruled out discussions with the Taliban on a prisoner swap as it tries to bring home its soldier held captive by the militants.
"We have not made a decision to transfer any Taliban detainees from Guantanamo Bay, though we anticipate, that the Taliban will raise this issue," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters.
"We will make any such decisions in consultation with Congress and according to US law. But they have stated before, as they've stated again today, that this is an issue -- the release of these detainees -- that they would plan to raise,"
Psaki said in response to a question.
The United States is currently working on a schedule to hold direct talks with the Taliban -- the first in many years.
"We have been very clear on our feelings about Sergeant Bergdahl and the need for him to be released," she said, when asked about the Taliban offer of the release of its soldier in exchange of five Taliban prisoners.
Sergeant Bergdahl was captured in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009. He said in a video that he was captured when he fell behind his unit during a patrol.
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