**Family of British Couple Detained by Taliban Urges Government Action for Their Release**
The family of a British couple arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan is urging the government to take “every possible measure” to secure their release. Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 79 and 75, who have been involved in education and training initiatives in Afghanistan, were taken into custody by the Taliban on February 1 while returning to their home in Bamiyan province.
In an interview with Times Radio on Monday, their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, explained that the family initially refrained from contacting UK authorities, hoping to receive direct communication from the Taliban regarding the reasons for their parents’ arrest. “Our parents have always aimed to respect the Taliban, so we wanted to give them the chance to clarify their reasons for this detention. However, after more than three weeks without any updates, we can no longer afford to wait,” Entwistle stated.
She emphasized the family’s urgent request for the British consulate to exert maximum pressure on the Taliban for their parents’ release and to provide answers about their situation. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed on Monday that it is “supporting the family of two British nationals detained in Afghanistan.”
According to a Taliban official cited by the BBC, the couple, believed to be working for a non-governmental organization in Bamiyan, was arrested approximately 20 days ago for using a plane without notifying local authorities. Entwistle mentioned that her parents had initially maintained contact through text messages after their detention, reassuring their four children that they were safe. However, communication ceased three days later, and the family has not heard from them in over two weeks.
The couple, who married in Kabul over 50 years ago, operate Rebuild, an Afghan-registered research and training organization established in 2009. The organization lost nearly all its staff when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, prompting a mass exodus of Afghans and international personnel, but the Reynolds chose to remain. Rebuild currently employs 30 full-time staff members and plans to expand its operations into four additional areas around Kabul in 2025. One of its initiatives involved training mothers and children in Bamiyan, where a ban on women working and on female education beyond primary school exists, although this project had reportedly received local approval.
The couple was arrested alongside their Chinese-American friend, Faye Hall, and an interpreter from their training organization. In an open letter to the Taliban, Entwistle and her three brothers expressed their confusion regarding their parents’ arrest, stating, “Our parents have consistently demonstrated their commitment to Afghanistan, declaring that they would prefer to sacrifice their lives rather than become part of ransom negotiations or be traded.”
The Foreign Office continues to advise against all travel to Afghanistan, citing an increased risk to safety.
