US Military Slams Video Of Captured Soldier

US Military Slams Video Of Captured Soldier

The release of a Taliban video showing a US soldier who was seized in Afghanistan has been criticised by the American military.

The footage shows Private Bowe Bergdahl, 23, in traditional Afghan dress, being prompted in English by his captors to call for US forces to be withdrawn from the country.

Spokesman for the US military, Captain Jon Stock, said: "The use of the soldier for propaganda purposes we view as against international law.

"We are continuing to do whatever possible to recover the soldier safe and unharmed."

In the video, Pte Bergdahl, appeared with his head shaven and a slight beard, wearing gray, loose-fitting Afghan shalwar kameez clothing.

He looked to be in good health and was shown drinking tea and eating bread and rice

When he spoke to the camera, a voice was occasionally heard prompting him in English.

The soldier said: "Well, I am scared. I'm scared I won't be able to go home. It is very unnerving to be a prisoner.

"I have my girlfriend who is hoping to marry. I have my grandma and grandpas. I have a very, very good family that I love back home in America."

A voice off camera prompted: "Miss them." The soldier continued: "And I miss them every day that I'm gone.

"I miss them and I'm afraid that I might never see them again and that I'll never be able to tell them that I love them again. I'll never be able to hug them."

At one point the voice prompted: "Any message to your people?"

He replied: "Yes. To my fellow Americans who have loved ones over here, who know what it's like to miss them: you have the power to make our government bring them home.

"Please, please bring us home so that we can be back where we belong and not over here wasting our time and our lives and our precious life that we could be using back in our own country."

I'm scared I won't be able to go home. It is very unnerving to be a prisoner.

Captured American soldier

The US military has been distributing leaflets this week seeking the release of the soldier, missing since late June.

Mawlavi Sangin, a senior Taliban commander in Paktika province, the southeastern area where he disappeared, said his men were holding the soldier and would kill him if the military applied pressure to find him.

Parts of the video have been available on YouTube but the footage has not appeared yet on websites regularly used by the Taliban or al Qaeda.