DHAKA: Five leading Afghan militants freed from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for a US soldier have pledged to honor an agreement between the Taliban and Qatar, which is hosting them.

The men, officials in the Taliban regime driven from power by the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, were released on May 31 and flown to Qatar in exchange for US army sergeant Bowe Bergdahl.

Their release provoked criticism from some US politicians, who said they could pose a threat to Americans abroad, and anger from Afghans opposed to the Taliban.

But in a statement posted on their Pashto-language website on Friday, the men said they would remain faithful to an agreement with Qatar, which mediated their release, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1831 HRS, JUNE 08, 2014