‘New opening’ for US-Taliban talks possible: Hagel
Washington: US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed hope the release of US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl would lead to direct US talks with the Taliban. “It could, it might and we hope it will present an opening,” Hagel said in an interview from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Taliban: prisoner swap was ‘big victory’
Kabul: Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on Sunday hailed the release of five senior insurgents in exchange for US soldier Bowe Bergdahl as a “big victory”. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire Afghan Muslim nation, all the mujahideen and to the families and relatives of the prisoners for this big victory regarding the release of five Taliban leaders from Guantanamo prison,” he said in a rare statement. Mullah Omar was Afghanistan’s de facto head of State during their 1996-2001 rule over Afghanistan.