KABUL: The US military denounced Sunday the release of a video showing a soldier captured in Afghanistan, describing the images as Taleban propaganda that violated international law.
The video shows Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl in traditional Afghan dress, being prompted in English by his captors to call for US and allied forces to be withdrawn from Afghanistan.
The US military confirmed the identity of the Ketchum, Idaho native, saying he served with the 1st Battalion of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment. His identifying dog tags are displayed to the camera by his captors in the video.
“We condemn the use of this video and the public humiliation of prisoners. It is against international law,” US military spokesman Col. Greg Julian said. “We are doing everything we can to return this soldier to safety.”
In the video, portions of which were posted on the Internet video sharing site YouTube, Bergdahl appeared with his head shaven and a slight beard, wearing traditional gray, loose-fitting Afghan shalwar-kameez clothing. He appears to be in good health and is shown drinking tea and eating bread and rice.
“I am scared. I’m scared I won’t be able to go home. It is very unnerving to be a prisoner,” he says.
Later, a voice off camera prompts: “Any message to your people?”
“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,” Bergdahl says.
Julian said Washington would not give in to the unjustified demands of the extremists.
Meanwhile, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said Sunday that dialogue had to be established with the Taleban and political progress, rather than military might, would achieve a solution in Afghanistan.
“I think the strategy is right but we need to put in a little more input, more forces required, and maybe we need to concentrate also on the long-term strategy. We are following a short-term military strategy only,” the former general told Britain’s Sky News television.
“The Taleban have done wicked things. But then we have to come to a solution. Military is never the ultimate solution. The military can buy you time, it can create an environment, but ultimately it is the political instrument which has to be used,” Musharraf said.
The former president continued: “I personally think that you need to establish a political dialogue and political dialogue with senior elements within the Taleban.
“Unfortunately, the Taleban or the senior elements in the Taleban, I don’t think are open at the moment to any discussions or any negotiations with (Afghan President Hamid) Karzai.”
Musharraf said the Taleban’s influence in Pakistan’s Afghan border areas had strengthened since he resigned the presidency in August last year. “There is a degree of instability that has come up because of this resurgence of Talebanization activity in the settled districts of the frontier, especially Swat, but I am very sure as long as the armed forces of Pakistan stay and they are strong, Pakistan will remain stable,” he said.
