A British couple, Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbara Reynolds, 76, has been released after approximately eight months of detention in Afghanistan. The Reynolds, who had managed educational programs in the country for nearly two decades, opted to remain following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 and the subsequent withdrawal of Western troops. Their release was facilitated by the Qatari government, a result of renewed diplomatic efforts by Western nations to free their citizens held by the Taliban, alongside advocacy from the couple’s family. Qatar maintained diplomatic channels with the Taliban government, unlike many other European nations that withdrew diplomatic staff in 2021. Following their release, the British government reiterated its advisory against travel to Afghanistan, stating that its capacity to support citizens in the country “is extremely limited.”
Source: www.nytimes.com