British nationals Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 79 and 75 respectively, were detained in Afghanistan due to an alleged error concerning fake Afghan passports, as reported by the Taliban on Tuesday. The couple, along with a Chinese-American friend named Faye Hall and an interpreter from their business, were apprehended by the Taliban’s interior ministry on February 1 while returning to their residence in the central province of Bamiyan. They have been involved in running educational and training programs in Afghanistan. The Taliban spokesperson, Abdul Mateen Qani, cited the reason for their arrest as a “misunderstanding” regarding fake passports. Initially, the family did not involve UK authorities, hoping for direct communication from the Taliban. However, after a three-week silence, Sarah Entwistle, the couple’s daughter, called for immediate support from the British consulate to secure their release. The Taliban has since expressed their intention to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. The couple, who were married in Kabul over 50 years ago, run Rebuild, an Afghan-registered research and training business established in 2009. In an open letter to the Taliban, their children emphasized their parents’ dedication to Afghanistan and their unwillingness to be part of any ransom negotiations or barters.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/25/taliban-says-misunderstanding-led-to-arrest-of-british-couple-in-afghanistan