---
title: "The Taliban Says The Infamous ‘Gitmo 5’ Are Joining Afghan Peace Negotiations"
date: "2018-10-30"
modified: "2018-10-30"
authors:
  - name: "Paul Szoldra"
    job_title: "Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/paul-szoldra/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/taliban-gitmo-5-qatar/"
categories:
  - "Afghanistan"
  - "Around the World"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "central command"
---

# The Taliban Says The Infamous ‘Gitmo 5’ Are Joining Afghan Peace Negotiations

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/18990926-1.jpg>)

The infamous "Gitmo Five" — the supposed Taliban all-stars exchanged for then-Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl — are going to be part of peace negotiations in the Afghan War, [according to](<https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/10/30/5-freed-from-gitmo-in-exchange-for-bergdahl-join-insurgents-in-qatar-taliban-says/>) the Associated Press.

- The five senior Taliban members were long-term detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before they were released to the government of Qatar on May 31, 2014, in a deal struck by the Obama administration.
- In exchange, Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured in 2009, was released by the Taliban and returned to the U.S. He was later court-martialed and received a dishonorable discharge, fine, and a reduction in rank from sergeant to private.
- Meanwhile, the Taliban five have moved up in the world, since the group's spokesman told AP they've all joined the Taliban political office in Doha.
- Taliban officials met with American diplomat Alice Wells in July, and had a follow-on meeting in October with the State Department's special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad.
- Talks between the two sides are preliminary, although both have expressed the hope that some negotiated settlement of the Afghan war can be reached. The top American commander in Afghanistan [said](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-taliban/us-ready-for-direct-talks-with-afghan-taliban-general-says-idUSKBN1K61WT>) in July that he was open to the idea of directly speaking with the Taliban.
- Although some told AP they see the use of the five as a sign the Taliban desires peace, it does introduce some awkwardness into the equation: Besides being Guantanamo alumni, all were considered by the Pentagon to be "high risk" detainees.

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## Author
Paul Szoldra was the Editor in Chief of Task & Purpose from October 2018 until August 2022. Since joining T&P, he has led a talented team of writers, editors, and creators who produce military journalism reaching millions of readers each month. He also founded and edits [Duffel Blog](<https://www.duffelblog.com/>), a popular satirical newsletter for the military. Before becoming a journalist in 2013, he served as a Marine infantryman in Afghanistan, Korea, and other areas of the Pacific. His eyes still go up every time a helicopter from Camp Pendleton flies over his office in Southern California.

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