Family Reunited After Eight Month Detention by Taliban

Tue Oct 21 2025 01:29:54 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A joyful reunion as British couple Peter and Barbie Reynolds return to the UK after being detained in Afghanistan for several months. Their son shares the emotional moment.

Peter and Barbie Reynolds, a British couple held by the Taliban for nearly eight months, have been reunited with their family and are set to return to the UK. Their son, Jonathan, expressed his overwhelming gratitude for their release, while they shared their hopes to continue their work in Afghanistan despite the tumultuous circumstances. The couple's release followed negotiations led by Qatar, showcasing the family's dedication to the Afghan community.

The son of a British couple detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly eight months has expressed his overwhelming joy at their release.

Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, who have lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades, are expected to fly to the UK after being reunited with their daughter in Qatar. Jonathan Reynolds stated on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he was ecstatic and massively grateful to everyone involved in securing their release.

The Taliban had detained the couple on February 1, claiming they had breached Afghan laws, but did not provide specific details regarding their detention.

Emotional scenes unfolded recently when their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, met her parents in Doha. Barbie expressed hope of returning to Afghanistan, saying, We are looking forward to returning to Afghanistan if we can. We are Afghan citizens. Jonathan echoed this sentiment, stating their desire to continue living and working there.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised Qatar's crucial role in facilitating the couple's release. The Reynolds had been conducting charitable work in Afghanistan, which had even received approval from local Taliban officials following their return to power in 2021.

Months of lobbying by the family brought attention to the dire conditions of the couple’s detention, with reports indicating that Peter suffered serious health issues during their imprisonment.

The couple's impending return to the UK marks a hopeful moment for their family, while also reflecting their deep commitment to the Afghan people, despite facing significant challenges in the country.