On Wednesday, the Taliban released a 17-minute video showing the handover of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to U.S. forces in Afghanistan in exchange for five militants previously being held in the Guantanamo Bay jail.

The video was e-mailed to various media outlets on Wednesday and although currently under review by the Defense Department, authorities state that there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of the recording.

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The video shows Sgt. Bergdahl, clean shaven and dressed in traditional Afghan clothing, waiting in a white pick-up truck and blinking frequently as he interacts with his captors.

A Taliban militant narrates the video and at one point says:

"We told them there are 18 armed fighters and the Americans said that's all right."

Next, a Blackhawk helicopter lands nearby and two militants lead Bergdahl forward waving a makeshift flag made up of a white cloth tied to a stick.

As Bergdahl is led away, one of the militants can be heard telling him not to come back to Afghanistan or he won't make it out alive next time. Surrounding Taliban react to the comment by laughing.

The video's narrator states that the handover is taking place at around 4 p.m. Saturday in the area of Bati in Ali Sher district of eastern Khost province.

The video also showed the arrival in Qatar of the five militants who were exchanged for Sgt. Bergdahl. The men are greeted with embraces as Taliban music plays in the background.

The exchange for Bergdahl has been wrought with controversy as some U.S. military soldiers have claimed that the Sgt. was a deserter prior to being captured by the Taliban in 2009.

The circumstances of Bergdahl's capture are still under investigation.

Some members of Congress have also targeted President Obama stating the leader did not give them advanced notice of the swap.

TagsBergdahl, Bowe, released, US, army, desertion