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Bowe R. Bergdahl (b. 1986 (age 38–39)) is an American soldier who was captured while serving in Afghanistan. Bergdahl went missing on June 30 2009. The Department of Defense reported that he went missing on July 2 2009, attributing his disappearance to "walking off his base in eastern Afghanistan with three Afghan counterparts".

The Taliban released a video showing they had captured Bergdahl on July 18 2009. A Department of Defense statement issued on July 19 2009 confirmed that they were aware that Bergdahl had been captured, changing his official status form "missing/whereabouts unknown" to "missing/captured".

In the 28 minute video his captors hold up his dog tags to establish the captured man is Bergdahl. In the video Bergdahl states the date as July 14 2009. Bergdahl says he was captured when he fell behind on a patrol.

A Department of Defense spokesperson, Lieutenant Commander Christine Sidenstricker called the video of the captured man a violation of international law:

"I'm glad to see he appears unharmed, but again, this is a Taliban propaganda video. They are exploiting the soldier in violation of international law."

According to the Associated Press Nabi Mullakheil a General in the Afghan National Police, said the capture occured in Paktika Province. Their other sources inform them that he was captured by a Taliban group led by a "Maulvi Sangin", who has moved him to Ghazni Province.

According to the Associated Press, Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said: "the militants holding the soldier haven't yet set any conditions for his release."

References

1. ^ Pamela Hess, Lolita Baldur (2009-07-19). "Soldier held in Afghanistan is 23-year-old Idahoan". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2009-07-19.