A British couple in their 70s, who have been conducting education programs in Afghanistan for almost two decades, have been held captive by the Taliban since last month. Their four children, eager to hear some news, have appealed to the Taliban to free them, saying that their parents had spent their entire lives working for Afghanistan.
Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who have been in Afghanistan for 18 years, decided to remain even after the Taliban took over in 2021. They operate Rebuild, which offers training and education programs for businesses, government departments, NGOs, and schools. As reported by The Sunday Times, one of their projects is mothers and children—a sector tightly regulated by the Taliban.
In a letter to the Taliban and made public to The Associated Press, their children underscored their parents’ dedication to Afghanistan. “They have always been transparent about their presence and their activities, assiduously respecting and complying with the laws as they evolve,” they wrote. “They have made Afghanistan their home, instead of with family in England, and they want to spend the remainder of their lives in Afghanistan.” They called on authorities to free their parents so that they could resume their work.
Taliban Keeps Mum, British Government Keeps Away
Rebuild confirmed that the Taliban abducted the couple, along with another foreigner and an Afghan citizen, from their residence in the Nayak district of central Bamiyan province. The organization disclosed that Taliban authorities had earlier raided their residence and abducted them to Kabul before releasing them back to Bamiyan.
Still, days later, a Kabul delegation, with provincial officials from Bamiyan in tow, led them back to the capital. “It is now approximately 17 days, and there’s still no update on them,” Rebuild reported in a note to AP.
The British Foreign Office could not comment on the case because the detained pair had earlier made a request through their government for it not to intervene.
Ongoing Uncertainty
No Taliban officials have made any statement regarding their detention so far. The uncertainty about their location and well-being has been causing worry among their family and the international community. With weeks going by without any news, pressure is increasing on the Taliban to give an explanation and bring them back safely.