The Taliban has confirmed the arrest of a British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, both in their 70s, in Afghanistan. This follows a plea from their children for their release after over three weeks of silence.
Peter and Barbie Reynolds have resided in Afghanistan for the past 18 years and remained after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. They are acknowledged for their work with Rebuild, an organization providing education and training across various sectors, including projects focused on mothers and children. Despite their efforts to contribute positively to Afghan society, their detention marks a concerning turn of events.
Sarah Entwistle, one of the couple’s children, has called for a boycott of the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match against Afghanistan to pressure the Taliban into releasing her parents. She has also urged British authorities to intervene and resolve the situation. ‘Our parents have always sought to honor the Taliban, so we wanted to give them the opportunity to explain their reasons for this detention,’ Entwistle expressed during an interview.
The couple was arrested along with another foreign national and a local from the Bamiyan province and transported to Kabul. Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani confirmed the arrests, identifying two British citizens with Afghan identity documents, a Chinese-American citizen, and their translator as those apprehended. Efforts by the translator to mediate have so far been unsuccessful.
The arrests have sparked widespread concern, especially given the Taliban’s restrictive policies on women’s education and activities, which could impact the programs the Reynolds’ organization supported. Supporters and family members continue to rally for their release, focusing on diplomatic channels and public pressure to secure their freedom.
The situation remains tense as the family of Peter and Barbie Reynolds, along with various supporters, continue to push for their release. Their arrest underscores ongoing concerns about the safety of foreigners in Afghanistan and the challenges faced by those working towards progress in a complex political environment.
