Afghanistan: Taliban release British couple who had been held for months

A British couple, who were detained successful Afghanistan earlier this year, person been freed aft the Qatari-mediated negotiations. Barbie Reynolds, 76, and her hubby Peter, 80, were taken into custody by the Taliban’s interior ministry connected February 1 and moved to a maximum-security situation successful Kabul successful March, AP reported.The mates person lived successful Afghanistan for 18 years, moving “Rebuild,” an organisation providing acquisition and grooming programmes. Together since the 1960s, they joined successful Kabul successful 1970."Two British nationals named Peter and Barbara Reynolds, who had violated the laws of Afghanistan, were released from custody contiguous pursuing the judicial process," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said connected societal media.

He added that the authorities "does not presumption the matters of citizens from a governmental oregon transactional angle".Their lad Jonathan told Sky News successful April his parents had "never heard 1 accusation oregon 1 charge". He said the British govt had offered to evacuate them erstwhile the Taliban took over, to which they replied: "Why would we permission these radical successful their darkest hour?Qatar, an energy-rich federation connected the Arabian Peninsula that mediated talks betwixt the U.S.

and the Taliban earlier the American withdrawal, assisted successful releasing the Reynolds mates from Afghanistan, a diplomat said. The mates near Afghanistan connected Friday. The diplomat spoke connected information of anonymity to sermon the delicate negotiations progressive successful the case.Earlier this month, the Taliban said they had reached an statement with US envoys connected a captive speech arsenic portion of an effort to normalise relations. The gathering came aft the Taliban successful March released US national George Glezmann, who was abducted portion travelling done Afghanistan arsenic a tourist. Afghanistan remains a absorption of US President Donald Trump. On Thursday, portion visiting the UK, Trump suggested that helium was moving to reestablish a US beingness astatine Bagram Air Base successful Afghanistan.

Zakir Jalaly, an authoritative astatine the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, dismissed the idea.Reynolds mates were flown to Doha and are present connected their mode location to beryllium reunited with their family.