A soldier believed to be the only remaining prisoner of the Afghan war is on his way home.
U.S. officials Saturday morning said Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was released to special operations forces by a Taliban group in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border.
Boise State Public Radio’s Emilie Ritter Saunders reports Bergdahl was captured in 2009.
Idaho native Bowe Bergdahl has spent most of his 20s held captive by Afghan militants.
Now at 28 years old, Bergdahl is being freed one month shy of the fifth anniversary of his capture.
In connection with Bergdahl’s release, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel says five detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba will be transferred to Qatar.
President Barack Obama called Bergdahl’s parents early Saturday morning to let them know their son would be returning home.
In a written statement, Bergdahl’s parents thanked U.S. officials who they say “never gave up.” And said, today we are ecstatic.
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