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An elderly British couple held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly eight months arrived back in the United Kingdom on Saturday.
Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife, Barbie, 76, landed at London’s Heathrow Airport after a stopover in Doha, where Qatari authorities arranged medical checks following their release.Qatar played a central role in securing their freedom amid growing concerns over the couple’s health. At Heathrow, Barbie Reynolds appeared smiling as she and her husband left the arrivals hall but declined to speak to reporters.
In a statement, their four children said the family felt “immense joy” at the news of their release. “This experience has reminded us of the power of diplomacy, empathy and international cooperation,” they said, adding that recovery would take time but that the day was one of “tremendous joy and relief.”
The couple, who married in Kabul in 1970, were detained in February while returning to their home in Bamiyan province, central Afghanistan. UN experts said they were initially held in a maximum-security facility and later kept in underground cells before being transferred to Kabul’s intelligence services.
The Reynolds have spent nearly 20 years living in Afghanistan, where they ran educational programmes for women and children. Both acquired Afghan citizenship and chose to remain in the country after the Taliban seized power in 2021, despite warnings from the British embassy.
Speaking at Kabul airport before their departure, Barbie Reynolds said they had been treated well and expressed a wish to return: “We are looking forward to seeing our children. We are Afghan citizens.”
Taliban authorities have not given a clear reason for the couple’s detention. On Friday, a spokesman for the Taliban foreign ministry said they were freed “following the judicial process” after having “violated the laws of Afghanistan.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the news, calling it “a huge relief” for the family. The UK government continues to advise against travel to Afghanistan, citing limited ability to provide consular assistance.
The Reynolds’ detention drew international concern. In July, UN human rights experts urged their release, warning their deteriorating health posed a risk of “irreparable harm or even death.” The case adds to a pattern of foreign nationals being arrested since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
