LONDON (AP) – A British couple in their 70s, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who have dedicated 18 years to running education programs in Afghanistan, have recently lost contact with their family after being detained by the Taliban. This incident, which occurred earlier this month, has raised significant concern among their children, who are now appealing to the Taliban authorities for their release.
The Reynolds couple has been living in Afghanistan since the Taliban's overthrow of the Western-backed government in 2021. Their organization, Rebuild, focuses on providing education and vocational training to various groups, including businesses, governmental bodies, educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations. Notably, one of their projects is aimed at supporting mothers and children, a critical area of focus given the Taliban's severe restrictions on women's education and activities.
In a heartfelt letter directed to the Taliban, their four adult children made an urgent plea for the release of their parents, emphasizing the couple's commitment to their work in Afghanistan. They highlighted that the Reynolds have always been transparent about their activities and have consistently adhered to the changing laws of the region. The children pointed out that their parents made a conscious choice to remain in Afghanistan and have expressed a desire to spend the remainder of their lives there rather than returning to England.
The children further elaborated in their letter, “We kindly ask for the release of our father and mother so they can return to their work in teaching, training, and serving Afghanistan, which you have previously supported.” They also mentioned that the couple had specifically requested that the British government not intervene in their situation. However, the British Foreign Office has refrained from commenting on the matter.
According to Rebuild, the Reynolds were taken from their home in the Nayak area of Bamiyan province, in central Afghanistan, alongside another foreign national and an Afghan citizen. The couple had been residing in Bamiyan for over two years, possessing Afghan identity cards. The organization noted that Taliban officials had previously conducted searches of their residence and had temporarily taken the couple to Kabul before returning them to Bamiyan.
The situation escalated when a delegation from Kabul, accompanied by provincial officials from Bamiyan, arrived and took the couple again to the capital. As of now, it has been approximately 17 days since their detention, and there has been no further information regarding their status or whereabouts.
Efforts for clarification or comment from the Taliban government have proven fruitless, as no representatives have been available to respond to inquiries.
