Taliban Frees Captive British Couple from Prolonged Detention in Afghanistan
In a relief for their family and friends, the British couple, Peter Reynolds and Barbara Reynolds, were released from Afghan custody on February 1, 2023. The announcement was made by the Afghan foreign ministry spokesman, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, through social media.
The couple had been running educational courses at the Institute for Cultural Evolution in Afghanistan for nearly two decades. Their arrest took place in Bamiyan Province, located in the centre of the country, and they had been detained for almost eight months prior to their release.
The release of Peter Reynolds and Barbara Reynolds was the result of a judicial process in Afghanistan, according to the spokesman. However, the specific reasons for their arrest and detention remain unclear. Abdul Qahar Balkhi stated that the couple had violated the laws of Afghanistan, but did not disclose the nature of the allegations against them.
The release of the British couple was also a part of growing efforts in recent weeks to free Western nationals held by the Taliban. The spokesman did not provide extensive details about the circumstances of their release, but it is believed that lobbying by their family played a significant role.
Peter Reynolds, who is 80 years old, and Barbara Reynolds, who is 76 years old, had been operating education programs in Afghanistan for almost two decades. Their release was communicated by the Afghan foreign ministry spokesman, but the Afghan foreign ministry did not provide any specific information about the allegations against them.
The Afghan foreign ministry spokesman's statement did not clarify the specific reasons for the arrest and detention of Peter Reynolds and Barbara Reynolds. However, it is a relief for their family and friends that they are now free and can return home. The release of Peter Reynolds and Barbara Reynolds is a positive step towards improving relations between Afghanistan and the Western world.
