'He was never forgotten': Obama joins parents of Taliban's only American prisoner of war to welcome his release in deal that frees five terrorists from Guantanamo

Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was captured July 2, 2009 by the Taliban in Afghanistan

He was reportedly held in Pakistan for the majority of his captivity

Bergdahl is said to be in good health and able to walk on his own

He was released in exchange for five senior-level Taliban detainees being held in Guantanamo Bay

Qatar has agreed to to host the detainees for at least one year

A few hours after the release of American's only prisoner of war, who had been held in captivity for five years, his parents joined President Obama at the White House.



The President had telephoned Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl's parents early Saturday to tell them their son was headed home.



The 28-year-old's release was part of negotiations which agreed the release of five Taliban members being held at Guantanamo Bay prison camp.



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Never forgotten: Barack Obama is joined by Jani and Bob Bergdahl at the White House on Saturday as he speaks about the release of their son, who was held captive for five years

Never forgotten: Obama says the the U.S. government never gave up in trying to secure the release of Bowe Bergdahl, who was held by the Taliban for nearly five years

With Bob and Jani Bergdahl flanking him, Obama sought to reassure the American public that the release of the senior Taliban members would not impact safety.



As he thanked the Emir of Qatar, after the country agreed to detain the men for a year, Obama said he had been given assurances by the Middle East country that U.S. interests would be protected.

'We're committed to winding down in Afghanistan and Guantanamo, but we are also committed to bringing home American prisoners of war,' Obama said.



'We also maintain an ironclad commitment to bring our prisoners of war home. That’s who we are as Americans.'



He then turned to Bergdahl's parents and said: 'Today, families across America rejoice in the joy you feel. We cannot wait for that moment you are reunited and have your son Bowe back in your arms.'

Bergdahl's mother spoke briefly to thank everyone who had supported her son, and their family, through five anxious years.

Relief: Bob Bergdahl and his wife embrace Obama, as the President tells them the whole nation is rejoicing over their son's release

Celebration: As Obama hugged Jani at a press call on Saturday, he could be heard saying to her 'A good day'

Long wait: Jani is supported by the President as they walk to the Rose Garden to deliver a statement about the release of her soldier son

The soldier's father, who had learned Pashtu an attempt to try to communicate through videos with his son's captors, then read out a message to his son in the language, saying: 'I'm your father Bowe.'

He explained that his son had been trouble learning to communicate again in English.



After asking for privacy as their son recovers in the coming months, the parents hugged Obama, who whispered to Mrs Bergdahl, 'A good day'. The mom replied: 'Yes. A good day.'

During the brief press conference at the White House, the President avoided discussing concerns raised by John McCain and other Republicans about the potential danger from releasing five high-ranking Taliban members.



McCain, a former prisoner-of-war, welcomed the release of Bergdahl, but said the men being freed were 'hardened terrorists' who had 'the blood of Americans on their hands'.

' I am eager to learn what precise steps are being taken to ensure that these vicious and violent Taliban extremists never return to the fight against the United States and our partners or engage in any activities that can threaten the prospects for peace and security in Afghanistan,' he said.

Congressman Howard McKeon and Senator James Inhofe also claimed on Saturday that the President had acted unlawfully by sidestepping Congress.

The two Republicans said under law, the President has to give Congress 30 days' notice before transferring terrorists from U.S. facilities.

Propaganda: This undated image of video footage taken from a Taliban-affiliated website shows a man claiming to be Bergdahl under captivity Connection: In an effort to reach out to his son's captors, Bob Bergdahl grew a beard and learned to speak Pashtu Captive: Bergdahl, pictured in a video released by his captors in 2010, was held mainly in Pakistan The president's statement did not mention the prisoner swap, but did thank the government of Qatar for its involvement. Bergdahl, who is said to be in good health, was so grateful for his release that he reportedly broke down in tears while being airlifted away from the Taliban. The chopper taking Bergdahl was so loud that he wrote 'S.F.?' on a paper plate to ask if the soldiers were Special Forces, a Pentagon official told the New York Times. 'Yes, we’ve been looking for you for a long time,' a soldier shouted back over the roar of the engine. The freed soldier cried tears of relief over finally being back in U.S. custody. The exchange involved several dozen Special Forces soldiers and about 18 Taliban combatants meeting near the Afghanistan - Pakistan border late Saturday evening., an official said. U.S. commandos were on the ground for a short period of time before lifting off with Bergdahl. President Barack Obama called Bergdahl's parents shortly after he was secured to give them the good news. 'Today the American people are pleased that we will be able to welcome home Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl,' U.S. President Barack Obama said in a statement. His recovery 'is a reminder of America's unwavering commitment to leave no man or woman in uniform behind on the battlefield.' U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also trumpeted Bergdahl's release. 'Our nation has a sober and solemn duty to ensure that every single American who signs up to serve our country comes home,' Kerry said in a statement. 'The cost of years of captivity to Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl and his family is immeasurable. 'We are heartened that Sergeant Bergdahl will soon be reunited with his family and friends, from whom he has been apart for far too long.' Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Martin Dempsey, said : 'It is our ethos that we never leave a fallen comrade. Today we have back in our ranks the only remaining captured soldier from our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.' Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the U.S. government ‘never forgot Sergeant Bergdahl, nor did we stop working to bring him back’ Hagel also insisted steps have been taken in Qatar to ensure that the detainees are properly handled and that U.S. interests ‘will not be compromised.’

Support: Friends and family of Bowe Bergdahl continuously campaigned to call for his release

Childhood friends: Bowe Bergdahl, pictured on his dirt bike, has known Monica and her family for years

Through the years: Bergdahl pictured at left in the Army prior to his capture and at right as a teenager

A White House official reaffirmed Hagels remarks in a separate statement to CNN.

'As the Administration has repeatedly affirmed, we will not transfer any detainee from Guantanamo unless the threat the detainee may pose to the United States can be sufficiently mitigated and only when consistent with our humane treatment policy.'

The 28-year-old Berghdal had been held by the Taliban since June 30, 2009. His release came after contentious negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban- affiliated Haqqani network that were moderated by the Qatari government.

Bergdahl will first be taken to Bagram Air Field, in Kabul, before being transported to Rammstein Air Force Base in Germany and then Brooke Army Medical Center, in San Antonio, Texas, upon arrival in the U.S.

Officials say he is in good condition and able to walk, but that medical and psychological evaluations must occur before he is released.

He was reported by CNN to have been held in Pakistan for the majority of his captivity, and an official called the handover 'peaceful.'

Bergdahl's parents released a statement to the network hailing their son's freedom.

'We were so joyful and relieved when President Obama called us today to give us the news that Bowe is finally coming home,' said Bob and Jani Bergdahl. 'We cannot wait to wrap our arms around our only son.'

THE TALIBAN DETAINEES RELEASED SATURDAY FROM GUANTANAMO Abdul Haq Wasiq - Taliban deputy minister of intelligence

Mullah Norullah Nori - Senior Taliban commander in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif who commanded insurgents fighting U.S. forces in late 2001

Khairullah Khairkhwa - Senior Taliban official believed to have ties to Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar, the Taliban's founder

Mohammed Nabi - A regional Chief of Security for the Taliban and eventual radio operator

Mohammed Fazl - Believed to have overseen the mass extermination of Shiite Muslims during the 2000 - 2001 war that saw the Taliban rise to power in Afghanistan.





Released to Qatar: Abdul Waq-Hasiq (left) and Norullah Nori are no longer at Guantanamo Bay Former combatants: Khirullah Khairkhwa (left) and Khirullah Khairkhwa will remain in Qatar for at least next year as part of the terms of their release

War criminal?: Mohammad Fazi is believed to have been at the command of a mass-killing of of Shiite Muslims in 2000

Bob Bergdahl notably learned Pashtu and immersed himself in the culture in efforts to speak directly with his son's captors via videos released online and in media interviews.

The prisoners exchanged were not chosen by U.S. officials, but rather by Bergdahl's captors, according to an expert.

'These detainees were identified by the Taliban,' Major General Spider Marks told CNN.

Officials who disclosed the prisoner swap insisted on anonymity in order to describe the details on Bergdahl's release because they were not authorized to discuss the exchange, but the prisoners are believed to be the five most senior Taliban members in U.S. custody.

The detainees likely released to the custody of Qatar are Abdul Haq Wasiq, Mullah Norullah Nori, Khairullah Khairkhwa, Mohammed Nabi and Mohammed Fazl.

Human Rights Watch, a human rights organization, has previously called for him to be prosecuted for war crimes for his assumed involvement in the genocide.

The detainees were reported by CNN to have left Cuba for Qatar on Saturday afternoon.

The five men will be under strict supervision in Qatar. Their movements and interactions with others will be restricted and monitored.

The Taliban was reported earlier this year to have been mulling whether to release the Idaho native.

'Elements in all echelons — from the top of the Taliban down to the folks holding Bergdahl — are reaching out to make a deal,' an unnamed official said.

Many questions remain unanswered about Bergdahl's capture, including why he chose to walk off his Army post June 30, a few days before he went missing.

Experts have speculated he may be charged with going Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) once he recovers sufficiently enough to explain his actions.

A 2012 Rolling Stone report about the missing soldier revealed that he asked a superior if it would cause problems if he took his sensitive equipment from the base if he were to leave.

The team leader told him taking night goggles and a rifle would most certainly be a problem.

Bergdahl is said to have slipped off the base alter that day with only water, a knife, his digital camera and a diary - a video from his captors appeared online not long after.

He was subsequently promoted twice from Private First Class (the Army's second-lowest rank) to Sergeant, and has not yet been classified as a deserter.