President Obama said that he's making no apologies for the recent exchange of an imprisoned American soldier for five Taliban members.
Last week, five high-profile Taliban detainees were released from Guantanamo Bay for the release of U.S. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
"This is not a political football. You have a couple of parents whose kid volunteered to fight in a distant land who they hadn't seen in five years and weren't sure whether they'd ever see again," said Obama.
"I make absolutely no apologies for making sure that we get back a young man to his parents and that the American people understand that this is somebody's child and that we don't condition whether or not we make the effort to try to get them back," he added.
Though administration officials are calling Bergdahl a prisoner of war, some critics say that the term may be too sympathetic. One of Obama's advisors said that though this is not an accurate term, it is still correct in a functional sense, The LA Times reported.
Meanwhile, the Taliban released a statement saying that Bergdahl was treated well when he was held captive in Afghanistan--even allowed to play sports with his captors.
Berghdal was also given fruits and other foods that he requested. "You can ask him in America about his life (in captivity). He will not complain," said spokesman Zaibullah Mujahid.
An unnamed US senior administration official also said on Thursday that the administration is expecting more inmates from Guantanamo Bay prison this year.
"There are a significant number of transfers in the pipeline at various stages, and I think you are going to be seeing substantial progress this year," the official explained.
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