While sending Eid greetings to Muslims, Taliban leader Omar Abdullah reportedly termed the controversial exchange of five Taliban commanders for one US soldier, a remarkable achievement for the militant outfit. In a statement released on Friday, the Taliban leader hailed the efforts of the representatives of the political Office of the Islamic Emirate in the exchange, reported News.com.au. Abdullah also added that the deal helped the insurgent group in gaining prominence on the international platform. Those who opposed the group earlier would now accept it as a reality, he said. Taliban exchanged US soldier, Bowe Bergdahl, who they held captive for five years, in exchange for five Taliban commanders who had been incarcerated by the United States at Guantanamo Bay prison.

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Barack Obama had defended the swap to get US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl out of Taliban captivity, saying questions that have emerged about the circumstances of the soldier's capture did not negate the need to bring him home.

United States, after long deliberation, had decided to free five Taliban commanders udner their custody in return for United States soldier Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl who was under the captivity of the Taliban for five years.