NATO officials have confirmed that the soldier seen in a videotape released by the Taliban earlier today is Private Bowe Bergdahl.

The 24-year-old soldier was seized in Paktika province, close to the Afghan-Pakistani border, by Taliban forces in June.
 

In the video, Private Bergdahl appears wearing sunglasses and a US military uniform including a helmet. It is not clear when the video was made. Private Bergdahl, who says he is a prisoner of war of the Taliban, attacks the US treatment of Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan and tells military leaders that they cannot win. He calls on the American people to stand up and stop the war, warning that it will turn into a second Vietnam.
 

A US military spokesperson condemned the video as propaganda and said statements made in it should be considered as coerced. He added that the decision to release it on christmas day was "cruel".
 

This is the second Taliban video showing the kidnapped soldier. The first video was released shortly after he was seized.