A British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, have been released after being detained in Afghanistan for eight months. The Taliban freed the pair, aged 80 and 76 respectively, without charge. They were reunited with their daughter Sarah Entwistle upon landing in Doha, Qatar.
The couple were arrested in February while traveling to their home in Bamyan province, central Afghanistan. They had lived in the country for nearly two decades, running a training and education organisation. During their detention, they were separated and held in a maximum-security prison for a long period.
Speaking at Kabul International Airport before departing, Barbie Reynolds said she looked forward to “seeing our children and our families”. When asked if she would return to Afghanistan, she replied: “If we can.” Their family expressed “immense joy” at the release and thanked Qatar for its role in negotiations.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the release, praising Qatar’s efforts, including those of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani. The minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Hamish Falconer, noted that Qatar played an essential role, adding that the UK’s ability to provide consular support in Afghanistan is extremely limited.
UK special envoy Richard Lindsay, who accompanied the couple in Kabul, said he was unclear on the grounds for their detention, but described their release as a “great humanitarian day”. A senior Qatari diplomat, Mirdef Ali Alqashouti, expressed gratitude for the cooperation between Afghanistan and the UK.
The couple’s son Jonathan Reynolds had previously expressed fears for their health, stating their condition was deteriorating. The family had been told by the couple not to pay ransom or trade them for terrorists. The Reynolds have five children, 17 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, living in the UK and US.
