Dressed in a white shalwar kameez, with a striped shawl draped across his shoulder, the gaunt-looking American looks up at the Blackhawk chopper circling overhead.
Armed Taliban men stand around him, one with a rocket-propelled launcher ready.
When the chopper lands, the American is led there by two men, one carrying a white flag. He is given a patdown, loaded on to the helicopter and whisked away.
A new video released by the Taliban showed the final moments of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s five years in captivity, before he was handed over to the United States.
The narration on the video says the transfer took place in Khost province, in eastern Afghanistan.
“We had a number of tribal elders with us … in order to build trust between us and the other side,” a voice in the video says.
“We told them that we had warned all our mujahideen fighters in Khost province and especially in Batai area not to attack them.”
The 17-minute-long video also showed an unusual sight: the Americans and Taliban members shaking hands and waving during the handover.
The Pentagon said early Wednesday it has no reason to doubt the video’s authenticity.
“But we are reviewing it,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
“Regardless, we know the transfer was peaceful and successful, and our focus remains on getting Sgt. Bergdahl the care he needs.”
