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New Video Released by Taliban Purports to Show Moment Bergdahl Was Released Into U.S. Custody
A new video posted online by the Taliban purports to show Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released into U.S. custody. (Image source: Screen grab)

New Video Released by Taliban Purports to Show Moment Bergdahl Was Released Into U.S. Custody

"Don't Come Back to Afghanistan"

The Taliban released video early Wednesday morning which purports to show the moments Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was released into U.S. custody.

A link to the footage was initially tweeted out by a Taliban spokesperson, followed by ABC News foreign correspondent Muhammad Lila and Washington Post Kabul bureau chief Kevin Sieff.

It shows a helicopter land in a green valley, as apparent members of the Taliban stand perched on surrounding hills with weapons.

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A new video posted online by the Taliban purports to show Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released into U.S. custody. (Image source: Screen grab) A new video posted online by the Taliban purports to show Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released into U.S. custody. (Image source: Screen grab)

A new video posted online by the Taliban purports to show Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released into U.S. custody. (Image source: Screen grab) A new video posted online by the Taliban purports to show Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released into U.S. custody. (Image source: Screen grab)

Non-uniformed individuals, likely Americans, then walk over and shake hands with Bergdahl's captors, who are holding a white flag.

A shaky Bergdahl, seen holding a plastic bag, then appears to be escorted to the military chopper. The entire handover appears peaceful.

A new video posted online by the Taliban purports to show Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released into U.S. custody. (Image source: Screen grab) A new video posted online by the Taliban purports to show Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released into U.S. custody. (Image source: Screen grab)

Absent from the video is audio. Lila, however, reported that at one point in the video, the words "Don't Come Back to Afghanistan" are superimposed over the video.

The footage, if authentic, offers the first images of Bergdahl seen during the handover.

A new video posted online by the Taliban purports to show Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released into U.S. custody. (Image source: Screen grab) A new video posted online by the Taliban purports to show Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released into U.S. custody. (Image source: Screen grab)

A new video posted online by the Taliban purports to show Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released into U.S. custody. (Image source: Screen grab) A new video posted online by the Taliban purports to show Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl released into U.S. custody. (Image source: Screen grab)

Over the weekend, President Barack Obama announced that Bergdahl had been released, in exchange for five members of the Taliban that had been held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter

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