( CNN ) -- When U.S. negotiators raise the issue of captured U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl with the Taliban in the coming days , it wo n't be the first time . The two sides held meetings in 2011 and 2012 that included the topic of Bergdahl 's release , with sporadic discussions since then . The first series of talks took place in 2011 with the State Department 's top representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan . He met Taliban representatives again the next year . An American proposal for Bergdahl 's release was a topic each time , U.S. officials told CNN in May 2012 . Talks offer hope for family . The meetings after early 2012 were sporadic , but they did continue , and again Bergdahl was discussed . `` He has been gone far too long , '' State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Thursday . `` We continue to call for and work towards his safe and immediate release . '' While the United States has been pushing for the return of Bergdahl -- captured in June 2009 in Afghanistan -- the Taliban has been pushing for the release of five of its own men from U.S. custody in Guantanamo Bay . Psaki said the United States expects the Taliban will raise that issue again when the two sides meet . In the past , U.S. officials have talked about transferring the Guantanamo detainees in two stages -- perhaps two men first , and then after Bergdahl is released , transferring the remaining three . Senior U.S. officials have also discussed the idea of transferring all five Taliban prisoners to Qatar first , before Bergdahl is freed . Under U.S. law , Congress must be consulted before any detainees are transferred from Guantanamo . CNN 's Jill Dougherty contributed to this report .
The two sides held meetings in 2011 and 2012 . Sgt . Erik Bergdahl was captured in Afghanistan in 2009 . The group is likely to advocate for the release of Guantanamo captives .