British couple released by the Taliban after months in jail touch down in Doha

By&nbspAadel Haleem

Published on 19/09/2025 - 20:43 GMT+2

A British mates held successful Afghanistan for much than 7 months arrived successful nan Qatari superior Doha connected Friday, aft high-level talks betwixt nan Taliban, Qatar and nan UK led to their release.

Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged aged 80 and 76 respectively, were held successful Afghanistan for much than 7 months connected undisclosed charges.

The brace had lived successful nan state for 18 years and ran an acquisition and training organisation successful nan country's cardinal state of Bamiyan. They chose to stay successful Afghanistan moreover aft nan Taliban seized powerfulness successful a lightening violative successful 2021.

"God is good, arsenic they opportunity successful Afghanistan," Barbie Reynolds said aft she arrived astatine Kabul International Airport to alert retired of nan country.

They were emotionally reunited pinch family connected airdrome tarmac successful Doha. Peter and Barbie appeared upbeat and successful bully health, smiling arsenic they descended nan steps of nan aircraft.

The couple's daughter, Sarah Entwistle, ran to her parents. She hugged them both, past held her father's manus to travel him into nan terminal building.

Entwistle said nan family was overwhelmed pinch gratitude and alleviation to person her parents backmost aft their "incomprehensible detention by nan Taliban."

The Reynolds' family successful nan United Kingdom many times called for nan couple's release, claiming they were being mistreated successful situation and held connected undisclosed charges.

A spokesperson astatine nan Taliban government's Foreign Ministry, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, said nan mates "violated Afghan law" and were released from situation connected Friday aft a tribunal hearing, according to a connection he posted connected X.

He did not opportunity what rule nan mates were alleged to person broken.

Balkhi thanked Qatar for its "sincere efforts and mediation" regarding nan Reynolds who, he said, were handed complete to Richard Lindsay, nan UK's typical envoy for Afghanistan.