Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – The Taliban has said the recent arrest of a British couple in Afghanistan was due to a “misunderstanding” over their Afghan passports.
Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75, were detained by the Taliban’s interior ministry on 1 February. The reason for their arrests was initially unclear, but on Tuesday, Taliban officials stated they were held because authorities believed they had fake Afghan passports.
The couple, who have lived in Afghanistan for 18 years, were married in Kabul in 1970 and remained in the country even after Western troops withdrew and the Taliban returned to power in 2021. They run Rebuild, an organisation providing education and training for businesses, government agencies, and NGOs.
Their four adult children said the couple had sent messages after their arrests, expressing that they did not want Western authorities to intervene. In a letter to the Taliban, the family stated: “Our parents have consistently expressed their commitment to Afghanistan, stating that they would rather sacrifice their lives than become part of ransom negotiations or be traded.”
The Taliban has not provided further details or confirmed whether the couple has been released. However, on Monday, Taliban officials told the BBC they would “endeavour” to release them “as soon as possible.”
