After nearly eight months in detention, an elderly British couple was freed in Afghanistan on Friday, September 19, following growing international concern over their wellbeing. Taliban authorities confirmed the release of Peter Reynolds, aged 80, and his wife Barbara, 76, though they did not clarify the reasons behind their February arrest.
At Kabul airport, Barbara stood alongside her husband and expressed gratitude, saying, “We have been treated with kindness. We eagerly anticipate reuniting with our children and hope to return to Afghanistan someday, as we hold Afghan citizenship.”
The couple, who wed in Kabul in 1970, have resided in Afghanistan for nearly twenty years, dedicating themselves to educational initiatives for women and children. Despite the British government’s recommendation to leave after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, they chose to stay and subsequently obtained Afghan citizenship.
Their freedom was secured through diplomatic talks facilitated by Qatar. Taliban spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi stated, “Peter and Barbara Reynolds, British nationals who breached Afghan laws, were released today following judicial procedures.” He confirmed their handover to Richard Lindsay, the UK’s special envoy to Afghanistan.
Footage aired by Sky News showed the couple preparing to leave Kabul for Doha with Lindsay, who remarked, “They are deeply relieved to be returning home.”
Initially confined in a high-security prison, the couple was later moved to subterranean cells before being transferred to Kabul’s intelligence agency, according to United Nations experts. In July, UN human rights officials raised alarms about their rapidly declining health, warning of potential “irreversible damage or death” without immediate release. Their family persistently appealed for their freedom.
Hamish Falconer, the UK’s minister responsible for the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, expressed relief that “their difficult ordeal has finally ended.” He also cautioned that British citizens should avoid traveling to Afghanistan due to severely limited consular assistance.
A Qatari official confirmed that the release was the result of prolonged mediation efforts coordinated with the British government. This development follows a recent visit to Kabul by Adam Boehler, the US special envoy for hostage affairs, who engaged in discussions about potential prisoner swaps. At least one American remains detained by the Taliban.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, numerous foreign nationals have been held captive. Russia is currently the sole nation to officially recognize the Taliban regime, while most foreign embassies in Kabul remain closed.
0 Comments