Taliban suspends talks to release captive US soldier

KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- The Taliban announced Sunday that it was suspending talks with the U.S. regarding the exchange of a captive American soldier for five Taliban prisoners.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid released a statement that said:

"The leadership of the Islamic Emirate has decided to suspend the process for some time due to the current complex political situation in the country... The process will remain suspended without the exchange of the prisoners until our decision to resume."

Mujahid did not specify what "current complex political situation" was causing the delay.

A U.S. official told CNN that U.S. diplomats had been involved in "extremely sensitive discussions" with Taliban representatives to pursue the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

Bergdahl was captured by the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009. The Department of Defense acknowledged on January 15 that it had received a "proof of life" video containing footage of Bergdahl that was dated December 14, 2013.

[CNN]