British couple Reynolds freed after months of detention in Afghanistan, diplomat says

A diplomat told The Associated Press that British couple Peter and Barbie Reynolds have been freed after months of detention in Afghanistan. The diplomat did not disclose where the couple had been held, the terms of their release, or their current condition. ABC News' international desk confirmed the statement, which was delivered from Dubai as part of ongoing coverage of Western detainees in Afghanistan. The AP report notes that the information came in a formal briefing around 5:25 a.m. Dubai time on Sept. 19, 2025. The Reynolds case drew attention from diplomatic circles because it involved a long period of detention and the potential implications for future negotiations over detainees.

Details about the release were scarce, and the statement did not include specifics about where the Reynolds were held, how they were released, or their condition. ABC News, citing its Dubai bureau, added that the information came from a single source and has not been independently corroborated by other officials in the public record at this time. The development arrived as international attention remains on Afghanistan's evolving security and governance situation, with media outlets monitoring updates about detainees.

Filed from Dubai, the report underscores the role of diplomats in communicating about cases involving Western nationals detained abroad. The Reynolds release adds to a pattern of reporting on detainees in Afghanistan that has appeared in major outlets in recent months. While the public record available at this time does not include additional confirmations from British authorities, the AP and ABC News continue to cover developments as they become available. The outcome in this case will be watched closely by policymakers and families affected by detentions in Afghanistan, as officials navigate the delicate balance between diplomacy and security concerns in the region.