BOISE, Idaho — The parents of a U.S. soldier taken prisoner in Afghanistan three years ago say they worry the government hasn’t done enough to get him released.
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was captured in June 2009 and is believed to be held by a group affiliated with the Taliban, likely somewhere in Pakistan.
Since then, his parents, Bob and Jani Bergdahl, have largely kept out of the public eye. But they spoke to their local newspaper, the Idaho Mountain Express, this week in hopes that renewed public attention would help secure their son’s release.
“There is a dynamic here that has to change. Everybody is frustrated with how slowly the process has evolved,” said Bob Bergdahl.
Bergdahl said he and his wife are hoping for a peaceful resolution, preferably one that doesn’t put other U.S. soldiers in danger.
“We don’t want to see Americans killed,” he said.
In August 2011, U.S. talks with the Taliban over Bowe Bergdahl broke down. Afghan officials became nervous that the secret and independent talks would undercut President Hamid Karzai, Afghan and U.S. officials told The Associated Press at the time.
To solicit support for further action, Bob Bergdahl plans to speak at an annual demonstration to recognize prisoners of war later this month in Washington, D.C.
“With all that’s going on, we really need a diplomatic path to get this resolved,” he said.