An elderly British couple who were detained in Afghanistan for eight months have been released following Qatari mediation efforts.
Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, had been held by the Taliban, with widespread concern over their fragile health. The couple were travelling to Doha for medical checks before returning to the UK after Qatari officials played a behind-the-scenes mediation role in the release.
The release of the Reynolds from captivity in Afghanistan “is a moment of immense joy” their family said, adding they are “forever grateful to the Qataris for standing with us during this difficult time”.
They thanked the Emir of Qatar for his "leadership and compassion", and thanked officials for their “tireless diplomatic efforts and unwavering support throughout this ordeal”.
“Their dedication and humanity have made an unforgettable impact on our lives," the family said. “Thank you for giving us our family back.”
They added that the experience has reminded them of “the power of diplomacy, empathy, and international co-operation”.
The couple were arrested while travelling to their home in Bamyan province, central Afghanistan, in February. They were held without charge, separated for a long period and detained in a maximum-security prison.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to the “vital” role played by Qatar, which mediated to secure their freedom.
“I welcome the release of Peter and Barbara Reynolds from detention in Afghanistan, and I know this long-awaited news will come as a huge relief to them and their family," he said.
“I want to pay tribute to the vital role played by Qatar, including the Emir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in securing their freedom.”
There had been fears for their health and well-being, particularly because of their ages and the prison conditions.
Last week, Faye Hall, an American woman who had been detained with the couple, told the BBC that the pair were “literally dying” and that “time was running out”.
The UK's Middle East minister Hamish Falconer said Britain had "worked intensively" to secure the couple's release and that Qatar "played an essential role in this case, for which I am hugely grateful".
"I am relieved to hear that Peter and Barbie Reynolds are no longer detained in Afghanistan, and their ordeal has come to an end. I look forward to them being reunited with their family soon," he added in a statement.
The couple ran a training and education organisation in Bamiyan, where they have lived for 18 years, after marrying in Kabul in the 1970s.
Speaking from a Kabul airport runway, Mrs Reynolds told Sky News she was looking forward to “seeing our children and our family again”.
In July, their son Jonathan said the situation had been “pretty frustrating”, after the family made multiple appeals to the Taliban to release them.
At the time, he added: “It's horrific that they're still held in captivity without, to our understanding, for a period of time, without any natural sunlight and not even allowed outside. So their health in so many areas is deteriorating, and it's deteriorating fast.”
Qatari officials said they made sure the couple had access to a doctor during their detention and mediation talks. "Throughout their eight months in detention – during which they were largely held separately – the Qatari embassy in Kabul provided them with critical support, including access to their doctor, delivery of medication and regular communication with their family."
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