After more than 11 years of fighting and five years in captivity, the only American soldier captured by the Taliban and held as a prisoner of war has been released. This comes at the United States prepares to remove its combat troops from the country.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was captured by the Taliban on June 30, 2009 in Afghanistan's Paktika province. According to the New York Times, he was held captive for five years but the U.S. was aware of his survival thanks to videos released by or captured from the Taliban, the latest of which was recovered in January of this year and showed an ambulatory, albeit unhealthy, Bergdahl.

The exchange happened in Afghanistan on Saturday at around 10:30 a.m. when 18 Taliban fighters handed over Bergdahl to American Special Operations forces. The Times reports that, in exchange, the Obama administration ordered the release of five Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.

Qatari officials received the prisoners, since Qatar had acted as the Taliban's intermediary, but the prisoners had a one year travel ban imposed on them. The exchange negotiations had been happening for weeks and were culminated when the president personally called Bergdahl's parents.

"Sergeant Bergdahl's recovery is a reminder of America's unwavering commitment to leave no man or woman in uniform behind on the battlefield," President Obama said in a statement.

Bob and Jani Bergdahl expressed their thanks and joy in a statement, saying, "We cannot wait to wrap our arms around our only son."

According to Times, a Department of Defense official reported that, as soon as he was picked up, Bergdahl wrote on a piece of paper, due to the loud noise from the helicopter, "S.F.?" He was asking them if they were Special Forces. A soldier answered, "Yes, we've been looking for you for a long time," after which Sgt. Bergdahl began crying.