KABUL - Taliban said on Sunday announced suspending talks on an exchange of prisoners with the United States, citing the complex political situation in Afghanistan.

The insurgent group and the Americans had held secret negotiations over prisoners’ exchange in the United Arabic Emirates (UAE).

At the meeting, the two sides had decided the US would free five Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for the release of Bowe Bergdahl, a US service member who was captured in 2009.

In a statement, the group confirmed holding clandestine negotiations with the Americans in line with directives from its leadership and mediation from the Qatari government.

The Taliban’s political office had achieved progress in this regard, according to the statement, which said they had submitted footage of the captive soldier to the American side, confirming that he was safe and alive.

But the statement said Taliban leadership had decided to suspend the talks on the prisoner swap due to the country’s complex political situation.(Pajhwok)