British couple freed by Taliban hug daughter in emotional reunion in Qatar

Caroline Hawleydiplomatic correspondent andAleks PhillipsWatch: Hugs on tarmac as household reunite after Afghan ordealA British couple freed by the Taliban after being detained for practically eight months have emotionally reunited with their daughter, sharing hugs after touchdown in Qatar.Peter Reynolds, 80, and his spouse Barbie, 76, who lived in Afghanistan for practically twenty years, have been on their approach dwelling after they have been stopped on 1 February.The couple have been launched on Friday morning via Qatari mediation, and later landed in Doha the place they have been met by their daughter. After medical checks they are going to journey to the UK, regardless of their long-term dwelling being in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan province.The Taliban stated the pair had damaged Afghan legal guidelines and have been launched after judicial proceedings – however has by no means disclosed the rationale for his or her detention.There have been emotional scenes in Doha because the couple’s daughter, Sarah Entwistle, met her dad and mom as they stepped off of the aircraft. They shared lengthy hugs earlier than strolling collectively in direction of the airport constructing.AFP through Getty ImagesBarbie Reynolds hugs her daughter, Sarah Entwistle, after arriving in QatarAFP through Getty ImagesPeter Reynolds additionally hugs his daughterShortly after touchdown in Doha, Mrs Reynolds stated it was “great to be right here”. The couple have been additionally seen greeting Qatari and British representatives.Earlier than her dad and mom landed, Ms Entwistle informed reporters she most lately spoke to them final Saturday they usually have been “prepared to return dwelling”.Earlier, the household stated they have been “overwhelmed with gratitude and aid” on the couple’s launch.They stated it was “a second of immense pleasure”, including in an announcement that they have been “deeply grateful to everybody who performed a task in securing their launch”.”Whereas the highway to restoration will probably be lengthy as our dad and mom regain their well being and spend time with their household, right now is a day of large pleasure and aid.”The household paid explicit tribute to the “unwavering assist” of the Qatari mediators, in addition to the diplomatic efforts of the UK authorities and the assist of the US and the UN.Peter and Barbie Reynolds married in Kabul in 1970 and spent the previous 18 years operating a charitable coaching programme that had been accepted by native Taliban officers when the armed group reclaimed energy in 2021.They’ve been described by household as having a lifelong love of Afghanistan, typified by their resolution to stay there after the authoritarian regime seized management in August 2021, when many different Westerners left.Their launch follows months of public lobbying by their household, who’ve described the harrowing situations of their detention.The couple’s son, Jonathan Reynolds, stated in July that his father had been struggling critical convulsions and his mom was “numb” from anaemia and malnutrition.”My dad was chained to murderers and criminals,” he stated on the time, including that that they had at one level been held in a basement for six weeks with out daylight.Reacting to the information of their launch on Friday, Mr Reynolds informed BBC Breakfast: “I can’t wait to place my arms round them and provides them a hug.”Ms Entwistle beforehand stated her father had suffered a mini-stroke, whereas the UN warned that with out medical care the couple have been prone to irreparable hurt.QATARI GOVERNMENTBarbie and Peter Reynolds (proper) will first fly to Qatar for medical checks, earlier than returning to the UKJust six days in the past, an American girl who was detained with them and subsequently launched informed the BBC that they had been “actually dying” in jail and that “time is operating out”.Faye Corridor, who was let go two months into her detention, highlighted that the aged couple’s well being had deteriorated quickly whereas in jail.A Qatari official informed the BBC the couple have been moved from Kabul’s central jail to a bigger facility with higher situations in the course of the ultimate stage of negotiations over their launch.HandoutThe pair have a lifelong love of Afghanistan, household sayThe official additionally stated the Qatari embassy in Kabul had offered them with medicine, entry to a physician and technique of speaking with their household whereas in jail.Taliban officers maintained they acquired sufficient medical care in jail and their human rights have been revered.The UK doesn’t recognise the Taliban authorities and closed its embassy in Kabul when the group returned to energy.The Overseas Workplace says assist for British nationals in Afghanistan is subsequently “severely restricted” and advises towards all journey to the nation.A Taliban official stated Peter and Barbie Reynolds have been handed over to the UK’s Particular Envoy to Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay, who was pictured with the couple aboard their flight to Qatar.The UK’s Center East minister Hamish Falconer stated he was relieved that the pair had now been freed, including: “I look ahead to them being reunited with their household quickly.”He stated the UK had “labored intensively” to safe their launch, whereas Qatar “performed an important position on this case, for which I’m massively grateful”.