The US military has launched a major hunt for two Navy sailors captured by the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chair of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff: “There is a tremendous amount of effort going on to find them, to search. And beyond that, I wouldn’t — I can’t discuss any additional details at this point in time.”

The Pentagon has not released the names of the soldiers, but photos of the men have been released. The Taliban has said one of the men died in a firefight, the other is being held hostage.