Taliban claims capture of US soldier
2 Jul 2009, 1642 Hrs

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Kabul, July 2 A Taliban commander told CBS News Thursday that militants had captured one U.S. soldier and three Afghan nationals in Paktika province, near the Pakistani border.

A U.S. military spokesperson in Kabul confirmed that one soldier has been missing in Afghanistan since June 30.

Captain Elizabeth Mathias told CBS News Thursday, "A U.S. serviceman has been missing in Afghanistan since 30th June, it's believed the service person is being held by insurgents."

The Taliban commander, who spoke via satellite telephone from the region, said a group of militants cornered the American soldier and his Afghan counterparts near a U.S. military base and took them hostage.

He said the captives' fate would be decided by Taliban leaders, but that the Islamic extremist group "would not mind an exchange of prisoners in this case."

Paktika province sits along Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan. (ANI)

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