Taliban releases elderly British couple from Afghanistan detention

London thanked Qatar for starring negotiations for the merchandise of the brace aft their apprehension successful February.

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities has released a British mates held for almost 8 months connected undisclosed charges.

Peter Reynolds, 80, and his woman Barbara, 76, were released from situation connected Friday aft a tribunal proceeding and handed implicit to the United Kingdom‘s peculiar typical to the country, Richard Lindsay. The determination followed negotiations led by Qatar.

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Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said connected societal media that the mates had been arrested successful February for “violating” Afghan law, but did not accidental which authorities had been broken.

UK officials were speedy to explicit alleviation and to convey the mediating country.

“I invited the merchandise of Peter and Barbara Reynolds from detention successful Afghanistan, and I cognize this long-awaited quality volition travel arsenic a immense alleviation to them and their family,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “I privation to wage tribute to the captious relation played by Qatar.”

In a connection connected Friday afternoon, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said the mates had arrived successful Qatar’s capital, Doha, and would depart for London later. It besides expressed its appreciation for the “fruitful cooperation” betwixt the Afghan and UK officials.

‘Looking guardant to return’

United Nations quality rights experts had called connected the Taliban successful July to escaped the pair, having warned of the “rapid deterioration” of their carnal and intelligence health, and stating that they “risk irreparable harm oregon adjacent death”.

Images of the mates lasting unneurotic connected Friday with the UK’s peculiar typical to the country, Richard Lindsay, at Kabul airdrome earlier their departure to Doha were broadcast connected British broadcaster Sky News.

“We’ve been treated precise well. We’re looking guardant to seeing our children,” said Barbara, adding: “We are looking guardant to returning to Afghanistan if we can.”

The mates were joined successful Kabul successful 1970 and person spent astir 2 decades surviving successful Afghanistan’s cardinal state of Bamiyan, moving acquisition programmes. They besides became Afghan citizens.

When the Taliban retook power of Afghanistan successful 2021 they remained successful the state against the proposal of British officials.

The Reynolds’ household successful the UK had made repeated calls for the couple’s release, saying they were being mistreated and held connected undisclosed charges.

Hamish Falconer, the UK’s curate for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan, said successful a connection that helium was “relieved… their ordeal has travel to an end,” noting that the authorities successful London had “worked intensively since their detention and has supported the household throughout”.

The merchandise comes aft Washington’s peculiar envoy connected hostages, Adam Boehler, made a uncommon sojourn connected Saturday to Kabul to sermon the anticipation of a captive exchange.

At slightest 1 United States citizen, Mahmood Habibi, is held successful Afghanistan.

Dozens of overseas nationals person been arrested since the Taliban returned to powerfulness successful August 2021 pursuing the withdrawal of the US military.