KABUL:The release of a British couple detained in Afghanistan by the Taliban authorities is a “moment of immense joy”, their family said Friday.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude and relief to share that our parents, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, have been released after seven months and 21 days in detention by the Taliban,” the family said.
Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76, were arrested in February, but Taliban officials have refused to detail why they were detained for nearly eight months.
Thanking Qatari officials for facilitating the negotiations, the family said their “dedication and humanity have made an unforgettable impact on our lives”, and also thanked the UK government for ensuring the couple had access to medication.
“This experience has reminded us of the power of diplomacy, empathy, and international cooperation. While the road to recovery will be long as our parents regain their health and spend time with their family, today is a day of tremendous joy and relief,” the family said in a statement.
The couple were married in Kabul in 1970 and have spent almost two decades living in Afghanistan running educational programmes for women and children, while also obtaining Afghan nationality.
