KABUL (BNO NEWS) — A spokesman for the NATO-led ISAF alliance on Friday called the release of a Taliban video showing kidnapped U.S. soldier Bergdahl a “horrible act” showing “nothing more than the violent, deceitful tactics of the Taliban insurgency.”

The statement from U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Gregory Smith, Director of Communication for NATO’s ISAF alliance, comes hours after the Taliban sent a video showing Bergdahl to news agencies such as the Associated Press.

On December 16, a terrorism tracking group called the SITE Intelligence Group said the Taliban was set to soon release a new video of the captured soldier. It said the video was entitled “One of Their People Testified.”

“This is a horrible act which exploits a young Soldier, who was clearly compelled to read a prepared statement,” Smith said, responding to some of the contents of Bergdahl’s comments on the video.

The release of the video, which carried a watermark of Al-Imara Media Productions, the Taliban’s media wing, also comes on Christmas Day. “To release this video on Christmas Day is an affront to the deeply-concerned family and friends of Bowe Bargdahl, demonstrating contempt for religious traditions and the teachings of Islam,” Admiral Smith continued. Smith also said the alliance would continue their search for the missing soldier.

“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,” Smith concluded.

Bergdahl is a U.S. airborne infantryman captured by the Afghan Taliban in Paktika province on June 30.