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Taliban leaders in Bowe Bergdahl trade to see travel bans extended – US official Taliban leaders in Bergdahl trade to see travel bans extended, says US official
(35 minutes later)
Related: One of 'Taliban Five' in Bowe Bergdahl swap allegedly returned to militancyRelated: One of 'Taliban Five' in Bowe Bergdahl swap allegedly returned to militancy
Qatar has agreed to temporarily extend travel bans on five senior Taliban leaders who were released last year from Guantánamo Bay in exchange for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, a senior US official said on Sunday.Qatar has agreed to temporarily extend travel bans on five senior Taliban leaders who were released last year from Guantánamo Bay in exchange for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, a senior US official said on Sunday.
The official said the ban would remain in place until diplomatic talks for a longer-term solution were completed. The restrictions had been due to expire on Monday, under the terms of a May 2014 exchange for Bergdahl. The official said the ban would remain in place until diplomatic talks for a longer-term solution were completed. The restrictions had been due to expire on Monday, under the terms of a May 2014 exchange for Bergdahl. 
US officials said on Friday the Obama administration was closing in on an agreement with Qatar to extend the restrictions for six months, to be announced this weekend. It was not immediately clear why that agreement had not been finalised.US officials said on Friday the Obama administration was closing in on an agreement with Qatar to extend the restrictions for six months, to be announced this weekend. It was not immediately clear why that agreement had not been finalised.
The official said the US remained in “close contact” with Qatari authorities, “to make sure these individuals do not pose a threat to the United States”. As a result of the talks to date, Qatar “has agreed to maintain the current restrictive conditions on these individuals as we continue these discussions”, the official said.The official said the US remained in “close contact” with Qatari authorities, “to make sure these individuals do not pose a threat to the United States”. As a result of the talks to date, Qatar “has agreed to maintain the current restrictive conditions on these individuals as we continue these discussions”, the official said.
The official said the former detainees were all currently in Qatar and remained subject to the travel ban and extensive monitoring. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.The official said the former detainees were all currently in Qatar and remained subject to the travel ban and extensive monitoring. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.
Under the terms of the exchange, the five detainees were sent to Qatar, where government officials agreed to monitor their activities and prevent them from traveling out of the country for one year. In return, Bergdahl, who was held captive by the Taliban for nearly five years after walking away from his army post in Afghanistan, was released to the US military. He has been charged with desertion.Under the terms of the exchange, the five detainees were sent to Qatar, where government officials agreed to monitor their activities and prevent them from traveling out of the country for one year. In return, Bergdahl, who was held captive by the Taliban for nearly five years after walking away from his army post in Afghanistan, was released to the US military. He has been charged with desertion.
At least one of the five Taliban leaders has allegedly contacted militants while in Qatar. No details have been disclosed about that contact, but the White House confirmed that one of the released men was put under enhanced surveillance.At least one of the five Taliban leaders has allegedly contacted militants while in Qatar. No details have been disclosed about that contact, but the White House confirmed that one of the released men was put under enhanced surveillance.
According to Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a leading foreign policy hawk and a possible Republican candidate for president in 2016, one or more of the detainees met with some members of the al-Qaida-affiliated Haqqani militant group in Qatar earlier in the year. That was an indication that the group was reaching out to communicate with the so-called Taliban Five, said Graham, who predicted all five would rejoin the fight.According to Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a leading foreign policy hawk and a possible Republican candidate for president in 2016, one or more of the detainees met with some members of the al-Qaida-affiliated Haqqani militant group in Qatar earlier in the year. That was an indication that the group was reaching out to communicate with the so-called Taliban Five, said Graham, who predicted all five would rejoin the fight.
Four of the five former detainees remain on the United Nations’ blacklist, which freezes their assets and has them under a separate travel ban. But the UN has acknowledged that its travel ban has been violated. Four of the five former detainees remain on the United Nations’ blacklist, which freezes their assets and has them under a separate travel ban. But the UN has acknowledged that its travel ban has been violated. 
In a report late last year, the UN sanctions committee stated: “Regrettably, the monitoring team continues to receive a steady – albeit officially unconfirmed – flow of media reports indicating that some listed individuals have become increasingly adept at circumventing the sanctions measures, the travel ban in particular.”In a report late last year, the UN sanctions committee stated: “Regrettably, the monitoring team continues to receive a steady – albeit officially unconfirmed – flow of media reports indicating that some listed individuals have become increasingly adept at circumventing the sanctions measures, the travel ban in particular.”
The State Department insists that US officials work to mitigate the risk of former Guantánamo detainees returning to the fight, threatening Americans or jeopardising US national security. US officials have noted in the past that the five Taliban leaders are middle-aged or older, were former officials in the Taliban government and probably would not be seen again on any battlefield, although they could continue to be active members of the Taliban.The State Department insists that US officials work to mitigate the risk of former Guantánamo detainees returning to the fight, threatening Americans or jeopardising US national security. US officials have noted in the past that the five Taliban leaders are middle-aged or older, were former officials in the Taliban government and probably would not be seen again on any battlefield, although they could continue to be active members of the Taliban.
Members of Congress have repeatedly expressed concern about what will happen after the travel ban expires and criticised the administration for releasing the five in the first place. They have asked the Obama administration to try to persuade Qatar to extend the monitoring.Members of Congress have repeatedly expressed concern about what will happen after the travel ban expires and criticised the administration for releasing the five in the first place. They have asked the Obama administration to try to persuade Qatar to extend the monitoring.
Many lawmakers from both parties disapproved when the five Guantánamo detainees were swapped for Bergdahl. They complained that the White House did not give Congress a 30-day notification of the transfer, which is required by law. The White House said it could not wait 30 days because Bergdahl’s life was endangered.Many lawmakers from both parties disapproved when the five Guantánamo detainees were swapped for Bergdahl. They complained that the White House did not give Congress a 30-day notification of the transfer, which is required by law. The White House said it could not wait 30 days because Bergdahl’s life was endangered.
Related: Bowe Bergdahl's home town left bewildered by backlash against its heroRelated: Bowe Bergdahl's home town left bewildered by backlash against its hero
After the transfer, the House armed services committee demanded the Pentagon release internal documents about the swap. The committee received hundreds of documents, but lawmakers complained that they were heavily redacted. The committee inserted language in the fiscal 2016 defense policy bill that threatens to cut Pentagon spending by about $500m if the Defense Department does not provide additional information about the exchange.After the transfer, the House armed services committee demanded the Pentagon release internal documents about the swap. The committee received hundreds of documents, but lawmakers complained that they were heavily redacted. The committee inserted language in the fiscal 2016 defense policy bill that threatens to cut Pentagon spending by about $500m if the Defense Department does not provide additional information about the exchange.
On Friday, lawmakers stepped up their calls.On Friday, lawmakers stepped up their calls.
“This release was a complete overreach by the White House, ignoring US law,” said Representative Ed Royce, a California Republican and chairman of the House foreign affairs committee. “This release was a complete overreach by the White House, ignoring US law,” said Representative Ed Royce, a California Republican and chairman of the House foreign affairs committee. 
“Already over the past year, it’s been reported that the flimsy ‘security assurances’ in Qatar have been violated, jeopardising our security. In a few days, these assurances disappear and Taliban leaders will be free to return to the battlefield, putting US security interests and Americans at risk.”“Already over the past year, it’s been reported that the flimsy ‘security assurances’ in Qatar have been violated, jeopardising our security. In a few days, these assurances disappear and Taliban leaders will be free to return to the battlefield, putting US security interests and Americans at risk.”
House speaker John Boehner said Congress would “continue our efforts to investigate the administration’s handling of the Taliban Five swap”.House speaker John Boehner said Congress would “continue our efforts to investigate the administration’s handling of the Taliban Five swap”.