The US-led Nato force in Afghanistan today condemned a video released by the Taliban of a captured American soldier pleading to be freed.
In the video, described by SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors websites used by militants, Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl, captured last year, was shown asking to go home.
The video ends with a Taliban spokesman saying the group demands the release of prisoners in exchange for Pte Bergdahl's release, SITE said.
"The continuing use of Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl as a means of propaganda is a deplorable act and only fuels our efforts to find him and bring him home," said US Navy Rear Admiral Greg Smith, head of strategic communications for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force.
"The insurgents who hold Bowe are obviously using him as a means to ultimately cause pain to his family and friends. It continues to reflect the cruel tactics designed to deceive the Afghan people and the international community of their true intentions," he said in a statement.
In the video, as described by SITE, Pte Bergdahl said: "I'm a prisoner. I want to go home. You know, the Afghanistan men who are in our prisons wat to go home too. Let me go. Get me to come home. Release me."
The Afghan Taliban had previously released a video of Pte Bergdahl on Christmas. He is the only US service member deployed to Afghanistan known to be held by militants.
Reuters