London: A British couple released by Taliban authorities returned to the UK after being detained in Afghanistan for nearly eight months on Saturday.
Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife, Barbie, 76, were flying from Doha, the capital of Katari, where they remained for medical examinations after being released on Friday.
Qatar has played a key role in helping release the couple after growing concerns about their health. Barbie Reynolds smiled but did not stop talking to reporters as the couple walked out of the arrival area of London’s Heathrow Airport. Their daughter Sarah Entwhistle and the UK Special Representative of Afghanistan Richard Lindsay.
The family talked about their “great joy” when they heard Reynolds being released, and there were exciting scenes when they flew from Kabul to Doha.
“This experience reminds us of the power of diplomacy, empathy and international cooperation,” their four children said in a joint statement Friday.
“While our parents are back to health and spend time with their families, today’s road to recovery will be a great day of joy and relief.” The couple was arrested when they returned to their home in Bamiyan Province, central Afghanistan in February.
UN experts say they are the first heroes of the largest safety facilities.
The couple married in Kabul in 1970 and lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades, carrying out educational programs for women and children. They also became citizens of Afghanistan.
When the Taliban returned to power in 2021, they remained in Afghanistan under the advice of the British Embassy.
“Afghan citizen”
Taliban authorities did not explain why the two were detained. Speaking at Kabul Airport on Friday, Barbie Reynolds said the couple was treated well and “looked forward to seeing our children”.
She added: “We look forward to returning to Afghanistan if we can. We are Afghan citizens.”
Their son Jonathan responded BBC His parents want to return to the country they love. “They not only have a heart for the Afghan people, but they are also strategic, and the work they do is very fruitful and has a huge positive impact,” he said.
In July, independent UN human rights experts called on the Taliban government to release the couple, warning them that their health conditions were deteriorating and they risked “irreparable harm or even death.” Their family was repeatedly released as poor health. Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said on Friday that the couple “violated Afghan law” and were released “after judicial proceedings.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that “long-term mature news will bring huge relief to families.” The British government advised not to travel to Afghanistan, warning it that its capacity to provide consular assistance is “extremely limited”.
Russia is the only country that formally recognizes the Taliban government, which imposes strict laws and bones accused of human rights violations.
Posted at Dawn on September 21, 2025
