Kabul , Afghanistan ( CNN ) -- The Taliban 's release of a new video purportedly showing a captured American soldier in Afghanistan `` is a horrible act , '' a U.S. military official said Friday . Pfc . Bowe Robert Bergdahl , 23 , disappeared from his combat outpost in southeastern Paktika province sometime after he finished his guard duty shift on the night of June 29 . The military believes the man in the video is Bergdahl . `` To release this video on Christmas Day is an affront to the deeply concerned family and friends of Bowe Bergdahl , demonstrating contempt for religious traditions and the teachings of Islam , '' said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Gregory Smith , spokesman for NATO 's International Security Assistance Force . Family members viewed the video shortly after being notified about its existence Friday morning , said Lt. Col. Tim Marsano , public affairs officer for the Idaho National Guard , who has been serving as a liaison between Bergdahl 's family and the media . `` The Bergdahl family pleads with the captors to let our only son come home , '' Bergdahl 's relatives said in a statement released through the Idaho National Guard . `` To Bowe : we love you and we believe in you . Stay strong . '' Wearing U.S. Army combat fatigues stripped of the name tag and rank , the man in the video identifies himself as Bergdahl and emphasizes that he has been treated humanely . He says America has lost any hope of winning the Afghan war and that U.S. political leaders such as George W. Bush and Barack Obama can not be trusted . He also asserts that the U.S. military 's opponents in Afghanistan are `` very smart '' and have `` perfected '' warfare . In the past , freed hostages have indicated their statements during captivity were forced and made against their will . Smith said the soldier in the video `` was clearly compelled to read a prepared statement . '' Watch part of the video . `` It reflects nothing more than the violent , deceitful tactics of the Taliban insurgency . We will continue our search for Bowe Bergdahl as well as our efforts to ensure the security of the Afghan people and our coalition partners , '' he said . A senior U.S. official , who could not speak on the record because of the sensitivity of the circumstances , said the sections of the video with interviews of Bergdahl appear to have been filmed some months ago . The official said the document is not considered a `` proof of life '' video . The timing and authenticity of other sections of the video and the locations where it was made have not been determined , the official said . Bergdahl , an airborne infantryman , also appeared in a 28-minute Web video released by the Taliban in July , in which he was calm but became emotional when speaking about his girlfriend and family and going home .
Family views video , pleads for soldier 's safe return . Pfc . Bowe Robert Bergdahl went missing in Afghanistan in June . Parts of video appear months old , U.S. official says . NATO officer decries Christmas release of video .