Emotional Reunion: British Couple Freed from Taliban Detention Returns to the UK

Tue Sep 23 2025 09:13:14 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Peter and Barbie Reynolds, held by the Taliban for nearly eight months, are finally back in the UK after extensive negotiations. Their son expresses overwhelming gratitude for their release.

Peter and Barbie Reynolds, a British couple imprisoned in Afghanistan for almost eight months, have returned to the UK after being freed. Their son, Jonathan, expressed his overwhelming gratitude and hopes for their desire to continue their work in Afghanistan. The couple had been in Qatar reuniting with their daughter prior to their flight home. The family faced harrowing conditions during their detention, prompting public lobbying for their release.

The son of a British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly eight months, expressed his sheer joy at their release, stating he was 'overwhelmed'.

The Reynolds, aged 80 and 76, who had spent nearly two decades living in Afghanistan, were set to fly back to the UK after a reunion with their daughter, Sarah, in Qatar.

During an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, their son Jonathan shared, 'I am ecstatic and massively grateful' to all those involved in securing his parents' release.

The Taliban had previously detained the couple on February 1, claiming they had broken local laws but never disclosed the exact reasons behind their detention.

Friday witnessed poignant scenes as the couple met their daughter, Sarah, at Doha Airport.

Barbie, while expressing their affection for Afghanistan, said, 'We are looking forward to returning to Afghanistan if we can. We are Afghan citizens.' Both she and Jonathan hope to continue their charitable work in the country.

The couple's release resulted from months of public lobbying and negotiations led by their family, who had described the difficult conditions under which they were held.

Jonathan revealed that his father had been suffering serious health issues during their imprisonment, while his mother faced numbness caused by malnutrition. Although the Taliban claimed they received adequate care, the family sought meaningful changes to their conditions.

Importantly, the couple had previously decided to remain in Bamiyan province following the Taliban's return to power in 2021, demonstrating their commitment to the Afghan people.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer commended Qatar's crucial role in facilitating their release. The Reynolds will arrive back in London on a commercial flight shortly.