A British couple was detained in Afghanistan due to a “misunderstanding” regarding their possession of fake Afghan passports, according to the Taliban on Tuesday. Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 79 and 75, were apprehended by the Taliban’s interior ministry on February 1 while they were returning to their home in Bamiyan province. The couple, who have been involved in education and training initiatives in Afghanistan, were arrested alongside their Chinese-American friend, Faye Hall, and an interpreter from their organization.
Taliban spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani stated that the arrests stemmed from a “misunderstanding” about the authenticity of their Afghan passports. On Monday, their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, revealed that the family had initially opted not to engage 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 of silence, we can no longer wait,” Entwistle told Times Radio.
She urged the British consulate to take immediate action to obtain answers and to exert pressure on the Taliban for their parents’ release. On the same day, Qani mentioned that the Taliban would strive to release the couple “as soon as possible,” noting that various factors were being considered in the evaluation process.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed that it is “supporting the family of two British nationals who are detained in Afghanistan.” The Reynolds couple, who married in Kabul over 50 years ago, operate Rebuild, an Afghan-registered research and training business that has been active since 2009. In an open letter to the Taliban, Entwistle and her three brothers expressed their confusion regarding their parents’ arrest, emphasizing their parents’ unwavering commitment to Afghanistan and their unwillingness to engage in ransom negotiations or be used as bargaining chips.
