Afghan Taliban 'halts' indirect talks with US over prisoners swap

The Afghan Taliban has suspended mediation with the United States over the possible transfer of prisoners.

The U.S. is seeking to release five senior Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for a U.S. soldier captured nearly five years ago.

The terror group said it is temporarily halting the talks- what was considered the best chance yet of securing the 27-year-old soldier's freedom since his capture in 2009.

According to Politico, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed blamed the 'current complex political situation in the country' for the suspension of the talks.

A U.S. official with knowledge of the talks said the cause of the suspension was not the result of any issue between the United States and Taliban.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 27, was last seen in a video footage in December, seen as a 'proof of life' demanded by the United States.

Bergdahl is believed to be held in the border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He is the only U.S. soldier to be captured in America's longest war in Afghanistan.

Mujahed did not elaborate on what "political situation" in Afghanistan led to the suspension of talks or say when they might resume, the report added.