A British couple in their seventies has been arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan, sparking concerns for their safety and well-being.
Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 79 and 75 respectively, were detained on 1 February while returning to their home in Bamiyan, where they had been running humanitarian training projects for nearly two decades.
Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, has not heard from them in over two weeks and is pleading for their release.
The exact reasons behind their detention remain unknown. However, the couple had been operating projects that provided training for mothers and children, despite the Taliban’s strict ban on female education and women working.
Their initiatives had reportedly been approved by local authorities, yet this did not prevent their arrest.
The couple’s commitment to Afghanistan dates back to the 1970s, when they first met at the University of Bath and later married in Kabul.
Since 2009, they have run education and training projects in five schools in Kabul, as well as a programme in Bamiyan.
Even after the Taliban regained power in 2021, they chose to stay behind while most Westerners and staff left.
Following their arrest, Peter and Barbie Reynolds initially managed to communicate with their four children via text messages, assuring them they were being held by the Taliban’s Interior Ministry and were “fine.” However, after three days, all contact was lost.
Their daughter Sarah, who lives in Daventry, Northamptonshire, expressed deep concern:
“It’s been over two weeks since the messages stopped, and they were taken into custody.
“We would like the Taliban to release them to go back to their home and continue their work.”
She also highlighted the serious health risks her father faces, as he suffers from a heart condition and requires medication after a mini-stroke.
The Reynolds’ children have written a letter to the Taliban, pleading for their parents’ release. They stated, “We do not understand the reasons behind their arrest,” they wrote. “They have communicated their trust in you, and that as Afghan citizens they will be treated well.”
“We recognise that there have been instances where exchanges have been beneficial for your government and western nations. However, 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.”
Despite the family’s desperate calls for help, the UK Foreign Office has limited power to intervene, as Britain does not recognise the Taliban government and has no embassy in Kabul.
Taliban officials have confirmed that they arrested British nationals linked to an NGO in Bamiyan province. According to an official source, the couple was detained about 20 days ago for allegedly using a plane without notifying local police or border security forces.
The Taliban has taken a hardline stance against NGOs employing women, banning female workers in 2022 and threatening to shut down any organisations defying this policy.
The fate of Peter and Barbie Reynolds remains unclear, with growing fears for their safety and health. Their family continues to press for their release, while the UK government monitors the situation.
With Afghanistan becoming increasingly hostile towards foreign aid workers, this case underscores the dangers faced by those trying to help in the region.
