Report: Missing U.S. soldier sold to clan

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 2 (UPI) -- A missing U.S. soldier thought to have been captured in southeastern Afghanistan has been sold to a militant clan, a U.S. military official said Thursday.

The unidentified senior military official told CNN the soldier, whose name was not released, was captured along with three Afghan soldiers and then sold to a militant group led by warlord Siraj Haqqani.

The official added Haqqani clan officials are discussing ways to legitimize taking custody of the U.S. soldier.

The soldier went missing Tuesday after reportedly leaving his small outpost alone and apparently unarmed.

Taliban commander Mulvi Sangeen said later the soldier was captured along with three Afghan troops by Taliban forces.

Sangeen claimed the soldier was apprehended while drunk following a visit to a military post in the Yousaf Khel district. CNN said an anonymous U.S. military source has denied the soldier was intoxicated while Sangeen's account of events has gone unverified.