U.S. officials announced on Wednesday they have reason to believe an American soldier missing since 2009 is still alive, NBC News reported.
The footage, which was on a thumb drive intercepted by the U.S. last week, shows a frail Bowe Bergdahl discussing the recent death of South African President Nelson Mandela.
Military officials told NBC they believe Bergdahl is being held by the Haqqani network in Pakistan, though the Taliban offered his release in return for five militants being held in Guantanamo Bay.
Bergdahl disappeared from a U.S. military base in eastern Afghanistan on June 30, 2009, carrying only a compass and bottle of water. Some believe he voluntarily disappeared given the circumstances.
The last video showing him alive was three years ago. Officials believe the recently obtained footage is solid proof that he's alive.
In addition, Bergdahl's parents received a letter through the Red Cross that they believe their son wrote.
"We hope Bowe's captors will again consider his parents' plea to release him, but in the meantime, we ask that you please continue to keep him in good health and allow him to keep corresponding with us," the family said in a statement at the time.
Bergdahl, an Idaho native, joined the Army in 2008 and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in Fort Richardson, Alaska. Within a year, he was deployed as a machine gunner to an outpost in Pakita Province, Afghanistan.
