Not involved in any negotiations with Taliban: US

They added that if talks resume, they would however want to discuss the fate of Sergeant Bergdahl

Bs_logoImage
Press Trust of India Washington
Last Updated : Feb 19 2014 | 9:30 AM IST
The US has said that it is not involved in active negotiations with the Taliban, but would want to discuss the fate of its soldier held hostage by insurgents since 2009 if the talks were to resume.

"We are not involved in active negotiations with the Taliban. Clearly, if negotiations do resume, at some point then we will want to talk with the Taliban about the safe return of Sergeant Bergdahl," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters.

"He has been gone far too long, and we continue to call for and work towards his safe and immediate release. We have long supported an Afghan-led peace process, and we'll continue to do so. When it comes to Sergeant Bergdahl our hearts go out to his family. We have great sympathy for them," Carney said.

He said he could not discuss the details of US efforts, but "there should be no doubt that we work every day, using our military, our intelligence and our diplomatic tools, to see Sergeant Bergdahl returned home safely".

Without divulging much about the efforts being pursued by the United States in this regard, Carney said all efforts are being made by the administration.

"In the meantime, we are actively engaged in an effort to see his return. I can't document every effort, but that includes our military, our intelligence and our diplomatic tools," Carney said.

However, he did not refute reports that the US is considering a prisoners swap to free Sergeant Robert Bergdahl in exchange for Guantanamo Bay prisoners.

"With respect to Guantanamo, the President reiterated when he signed the fiscal year 2014 Defence Authorisation Act that this administration will not transfer a detainee unless the threat the detainee may pose can be sufficiently mitigated and only when consistent with our humane treatment policy," he said.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Feb 19 2014 | 9:16 AM IST