An elderly British couple, Peter and Barbara Reynolds, who had been detained in Afghanistan for almost eight months, have been released. Their release was secured through the “vital role” of Qatari mediation, as acknowledged by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The couple, who are also official Afghan citizens and have lived in the country for decades running educational programs, were handed over to the UK’s special representative.
The Detention and Release
The Taliban had arrested the couple in February but did not provide a detailed reason for their detention, other than stating that they had “violated the laws of Afghanistan.” The couple’s health had reportedly been deteriorating during their time in custody, leading to warnings from UN human rights experts. Despite their ordeal, Barbara Reynolds stated they were treated well and expressed a desire to return to Afghanistan in the future. Their release came just a day after a U.S. envoy visited Kabul to discuss a potential prisoner exchange.
