WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. intelligence officials are acknowledging that the United States may release several Afghan Taliban prisoners from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as an incentive to bring the Taliban to peace talks.

Meanwhile, Afghan officials tell The Associated Press that a plan to give Afghanistan a form of legal custody over the men if they are released satisfied their earlier objection to sending the prisoners to a third country.

Director of National Intelligence Jim Clapper told Congress on Tuesday that no decision had been made on what to do with five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay. But he and CIA Director David Petraeus offered the most public details to date about how the men might be transferred. Their most likely destination is the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar.