Couple Freed By Taliban Hug Daughter In Emotional Reunion

A British mates freed by the Taliban aft being detained for astir 8 months person emotionally reunited with their daughter, sharing hugs aft landing successful Qatar.

Peter Reynolds, 80, and his woman Barbie, 76, who lived successful Afghanistan for astir 2 decades, were connected their mode location erstwhile they were stopped connected 1 February.

The mates were released connected Friday greeting done Qatari mediation, and aboriginal landed successful Doha wherever they were met by their daughter. After aesculapian checks they volition question to the UK, contempt their semipermanent location being successful Afghanistan’s Bamiyan province.

The Taliban said the brace had breached Afghan laws and were released aft judicial proceedings – but has ne'er disclosed the crushed for their detention.

There were affectional scenes successful Doha arsenic the couple’s daughter, Sarah Entwistle, met her parents arsenic they stepped disconnected of the plane. They shared agelong hugs earlier walking unneurotic towards the airdrome building.

Shortly aft landing successful Doha, Mrs Reynolds said it was “wonderful to beryllium here”. The mates were besides seen greeting Qatari and British representatives.

Before her parents landed, Ms Entwistle told reporters she astir precocious spoke to them past Saturday and they were “ready to travel home”.

Earlier, the household said they were “overwhelmed with gratitude and relief” astatine the couple’s release.

They said it was “a infinitesimal of immense joy”, adding successful a connection that they were “deeply thankful to everyone who played a relation successful securing their release”.

“While the roadworthy to betterment volition beryllium agelong arsenic our parents regain their wellness and walk clip with their family, contiguous is simply a time of tremendous joyousness and relief.”

The household paid peculiar tribute to the “unwavering support” of the Qatari mediators, arsenic good arsenic the diplomatic efforts of the UK authorities and the enactment of the US and the UN.

Peter and Barbie Reynolds joined successful Kabul successful 1970 and spent the past 18 years moving a charitable grooming programme that had been approved by section Taliban officials erstwhile the equipped radical reclaimed powerfulness successful 2021.