An elderly British couple freed by Taliban authorities after nearly eight months in detention in Afghanistan returned to the United Kingdom on Saturday.
Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, landed at Heathrow Airport on a flight from Doha, where they had spent a day undergoing medical checks following their release on Friday. They were accompanied by their daughter, Sarah Entwhistle, and Britain’s special representative to Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay.
Qatar played a crucial role in securing the couple’s release amid growing concerns over their deteriorating health. Emotional scenes unfolded when the Reynolds reunited with their daughter in Doha after flying out of Kabul.
In a joint statement, their four children expressed “immense joy” at the release. “This experience has reminded us of the power of diplomacy, empathy, and international cooperation. While the road to recovery will be long, today is a day of tremendous joy and relief,” they said.
The couple, who married in Kabul in 1970 and later became Afghan citizens, had lived in Bamiyan province for almost two decades, running educational programmes for women and children. They were arrested in February and initially held in maximum-security facilities before being transferred to Kabul’s intelligence services, according to UN experts.
Speaking at Kabul airport before leaving, Barbie Reynolds said they had been treated well and looked forward to reuniting with their children. She added: “We are looking forward to returning to Afghanistan if we can. We are Afghan citizens.”
The Taliban authorities have not explained the reasons for their detention, though a spokesman said they had “violated the laws of Afghanistan.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the release, calling it “long-awaited news” and “a huge relief for the family.”