British couple in Afghanistan to be freed soon, Taliban says

An elderly British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, along with another foreign national and a local Afghan, were arrested by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities more than three weeks ago. The group was taken from the central Bamiyan province to the capital, Kabul, where they remain detained.

The Reynolds couple runs Rebuild, an organization based in Afghanistan that provides education and training programs to businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions. According to The Sunday Times, which first reported their arrest, one of Rebuild’s key projects focused on supporting mothers and children. This work is particularly sensitive in light of the Taliban’s strict restrictions on women’s education and participation in public life.

One of the couple’s children, Sarah Entwistle, shared that her parents had always sought to show respect toward the Taliban. Speaking to Times Radio, she said, “We wanted to give them a chance to explain why they were detained. But after more than three weeks of silence, we can no longer wait.” She has called on the British Consulate to intervene, seek answers, and pressure the Taliban for their release.

The Associated Press reported that the Reynolds’ family has appealed directly to the Taliban authorities for their parents’ freedom. The couple’s four adult children emphasized that Peter and Barbie had lived in Afghanistan for 18 years and chose to remain in the country even after the Taliban regained power in 2021.

Abdul Mateen Qanit, a spokesperson for the interior ministry, confirmed the arrest of four individuals: two British citizens, a Chinese-American citizen and their Afghan translator. However, no further details regarding the charges or the circumstances of their detention have been provided.

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