Taliban leader describes swap as 'victory'
Iran Press TV
Sun Jun 1, 2014 9:4PM GMT
The Afghan Taliban leader has described the exchange of a US soldier with five Afghans held at the notorious US-run Guantanamo prison in Cuba as a "great victory".
'I extend my heartfelt congratulations…" to Afghan people, Mullah Mohammad Omar said in a statement on Sunday.
This comes after the 28-year-old Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured by the Taliban nearly five years ago, was handed over to US forces inside Afghanistan on Saturday.
Kabul which was not aware of the exchange, reportedly mediated by Qatar, denounced the swap.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country, despite the presence of tens of thousands of US-led troops.
Relations between Kabul and Washington have been severely strained in recent years over several issues related to Afghan sovereignty. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has censured the US for civilian casualties in airstrikes, night raids on private houses and alleged abuses by US-led forces.
There are currently more than 50,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan, including some 33,000 US troops.
US President Barack Obama announced last week that he plans to keep some 9,800 troops in Afghanistan through 2016.
HRM/MAM/AS
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