An elderly British couple, Barbie Reynolds aged 76 and her husband Peter aged 80, who have resided in Afghanistan for two decades, have been released after being detained for nearly eight months by the Taliban. The couple was apprehended back in February while en route to their home in Bamyan Province, central Afghanistan, for reasons that remain undisclosed. Following successful mediation by Qatar, they have been freed and are being flown to Doha for medical evaluations before continuing their journey to the UK.
During the negotiation process, the couple was transferred from Kabul’s central prison to a larger facility. Their son Jonathan Reynolds had previously expressed concerns about their deteriorating health conditions, emphasizing that they had been unlawfully detained in a high-security prison without any specific charges. He revealed that his father had experienced severe convulsions, while his mother was suffering from malnutrition and anemia, with limited exposure to sunlight and outdoor activities worsening their overall health rapidly.
As the couple prepares to reunite with their family in the UK, the news of their release brings relief after months of uncertainty and distress.