Taliban insurgents fighting Afghan and the U.S.-led Coalition forces in the post-Taliban country on Thursday claimed capturing one U.S. soldier in eastern Afghan province of Paktika.

Mawlawi Sagin who claims to be commander of Taliban fighters in Paktika province, told media from undisclosed location via telephone that his fighters captured an American soldier along with three Afghan counterparts.

Sagin said these people were arrested Thursday morning in Yusuf Khil district while they were apparently drunk.

He also added that a footage about the hostages would be released soon and Taliban leadership would decide the fate of the arrested U.S. soldier, who is the first service member, made captive since launching U.S.-led military campaign against Talibanregime in late 2001.

Meantime, a US military spokesperson, according to media reports, has confirmed that one of their soldiers has been missing since June 30.

"A US serviceman has been missing in Afghanistan since 30th June, it's believed the service person is being held by insurgents," reports quoted the spokesman Cpt. Elizabeth Mathias as saying.

Source: Xinhua