British couple detained by Taliban freed after eight months, reunite with daughter in Doha before UK return

The son of a British couple detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly eight months said he was 'ecstatic' about their release as the family prepared to return to the United Kingdom after reuniting with their daughter in Qatar. Jonathan Reynolds told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he was 'ecstatic and massively grateful' to those involved in securing the release of Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76, who had lived in Afghanistan for almost two decades.

They were detained on February 1 while on their way home, and the Taliban said they had broken Afghan laws. The group has not publicly disclosed a reason for detention. The release follows months of public lobbying by the couple's family, who described the harrowing conditions of their confinement and the impact on their health. The Reynoldses had run a charitable training programme in Bamiyan province for nearly two decades, with Taliban officials' approval since the Taliban's return to power in 2021.

Sarah Entwistle, the couple's daughter, was visibly emotional as she spoke to reporters in Doha ahead of the reunion. Barbie Reynolds told AFP in Kabul that 'We are Afghan citizens' and that they would be willing to return to Afghanistan if possible to continue their work. Jonathan Reynolds said his parents' desire would be to carry on living there and to do the work they were doing.

Qatar brokered negotiations that led to the release, with a Qatari official telling the BBC that the couple were moved from Kabul's central prison to a larger facility with better conditions during the final stage of negotiations. Taliban officials maintained they received adequate medical care and that their human rights were respected. The couple were receiving medical checks in Doha before leaving for London. They will arrive on a commercial flight on Saturday morning, AFP reports.

The UK does not recognise the Taliban government and closed its embassy in Kabul when the group returned to power. The Foreign Office says support for British nationals in Afghanistan is therefore 'severely limited' and advises against all travel to the country. Sir Keir Starmer praised the vital role played by Qatar in securing their release.

Their release follows months of public lobbying by their family, who have described the harrowing conditions of their detention and the impact on their health. Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who spent 18 years running a charitable training programme in Bamiyan, faced a complicated detente after the armed group reclaimed power in 2021. Their family has voiced hope that the couple might someday return to work in Afghanistan, even as the international posture toward the Taliban remains cautious and conditioned on ongoing political realignments.