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Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, had lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades and were detained in February for allegedly violating Taliban rules.
British citizens Peter and Barbie Reynolds (right), who had been in custody in Afghanistan, sit with Qatari and British diplomats. (Reuters)
A British couple who were detained for nearly eight months in Afghanistan were released by the Taliban authorities on Friday. Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, had lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades.
The couple were on their way home when they were stopped by authorities on February 1. The Taliban said they had broken Afghan laws, but have never disclosed the reason for their detention, according to the BBC.
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The couple were reportedly freed through Qatari mediation. An official in Doha said they would fly to Qatar for medical checks before travelling further to the UK, despite having a long-term home in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan province. The Taliban also confirmed that the pair were released after judicial proceedings.
Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who married in Kabul in 1970, have spent the last 18 years operating a charitable training programme that was approved by local Taliban authorities after the group regained power in 2021. Their family said they had a lifelong love of Afghanistan, despite several Westerners leaving when the Taliban came to power.
Harrowing Conditions In Taliban Prison
Their release followed months of public lobbying by their family, who described the horrendous conditions of their detention. Their son, Jonathan, told the BBC in July that Peter was suffering from serious convulsion and his mother was “numb” from anaemia and malnutrition.
“My dad was chained to murderers and criminals,” he said, adding that the couple had been in a basement for six months without sunlight. Additionally, their daughter Sarah Entwistle said her father had suffered a mini-stroke in detention.
A few days ago, an American woman, named Faye Hall, who was detained with them and subsequently released, said the couple’s health deteriorated rapidly during detention. She told the BBC that they had been “literally dying” in prison and that “time is running out”.
How Did Qatar Mediate Their Release?
Qatar negotiated with Taliban authorities for several months, in coordination with Britain and the couple’s family, an official told Reuters. “Throughout their eight months in detention – during which they were largely held separately – the Qatari embassy in Kabul provided them with critical support including access to their doctor, delivery of medication and regular communication with their family,” the official said.
Qatar has worked for the release of foreigners detained in Afghanistan since the Taliban came to power in 2021, and has helped to free at least three Americans this year. During final negotiations, the couple were moved to a larger facility with better conditions.
The UK’s Middle East minister Hamish Falconer said he was relieved that the couple had now been freed, adding: “I look forward to them being reunited with their family soon.”
Before boarding the plane to Qatar, Barbie said she and her husband would return “if we can”, adding that they were Afghan citizens. For now, she said she was looking forward to “seeing our children, our family again”.
Western countries, including Britain and the United States, shut their embassies and withdrew their diplomats as the Taliban took over in 2021. Britain now advises its nationals against travelling to Afghanistan because of the risk of detention.
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
Kabul, Afghanistan
September 19, 2025, 17:32 IST
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