WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced as “unexplainableand unconscionable” Thursday the early release from prison of John WalkerLindh, the so-called “American Taliban” captured while fighting inAfghanistan.

“He still, as I understand it, still is threatening the United States ofAmerica and still committed to the very jihad that he engaged in thatkilled a great American and a great officer,” Pompeo said on Fox News.

Lindh, who was fighting for the Taliban when he was captured in November2001, was released early Thursday after serving 17 years of a 20 yearprison sentence, US media reported.

After his capture, Lindh was interrogated by a CIA officer, Johnny MichaelSpann, in the same Afghan prison where hours later Spann was killed in aTaliban revolt.

Lindh, who was not charged with Spann’s death, pleaded guilty to aiding theTaliban and carrying an explosive. -APP/AFP