Taliban spokeman: 1 missing US service member dead, other captured by insurgents

Taliban: 1 missing US trooper dead, other captured

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban say they have killed one of the two U.S. service members who went missing two days ago and have taken the other prisoner.

Spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press on Sunday that the two wandered into an insurgent-controlled area Friday. Taliban fighters opened fire, killing one and capturing the other.

Mujahid made no mention of any offer to exchange the pair for Taliban prisoners. Local Afghan officials say an offer to hand over the body was made through intermediaries. The Afghans say they insisted on discussing the fate of the survivor too.