The U.S. military has obtained a “proof of life video” of an American soldier. The video appears to have been made by those who are holding him captive, officials told CNN Wednesday.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who disappeared in 2009 from his base in Afghanistan, is currently the only member of the U.S. armed forces being held as a Prisoner Of War (POW). The Taliban has offered to release Bergdahl in exchange for five Taliban prisoners currently being held at Guantanamo Bay.  Officials believe he is being held by the Haqqani network in Pakistan.

Authorities have said the clip show Bergdahl in poor health as a result of five years in captivity. The video is the first “proof of life”  from the soldier after nearly three years and appears to have been taped as recently as December 14, 2013.

The U.S. military has been making efforts to free the soldier, including negotiation, but have so far been unsuccessful.

“Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has been gone far too long, and we continue to call for and work toward his safe and immediate release,” a Pentagon spokesman said.

The spokesman said the details of the efforts to free Bergdahl cannot be discussed but “there should be no doubt” work is being done on a daily basis to free him and bring him home safely.

Bergdahl’s parents are keenly following the development and issued a statement imploring his abductors to release him.

“As we have done so many times over the past 4 and a half years, we request his captors to release him safely so that our only son can be reunited with his mother and father,” read the statement. Last year, the family received a letter from Bergdahl, which proved he was alive.

Bergdahl is from Wood Valley, Idaho, and was 23 when he was captured. He was captured upon leaving his base after finishing his shift and only carried a compass and water with him.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl Pleads To Return Home

Image via Wikimedia Commons