Elderly British Couple Held by Taliban Faces Health Crisis

The children of Barbie and Peter Reynolds, a British elderly couple detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan since February, have urgently called for their release, citing rapidly deteriorating health conditions including possible stroke, heart attack, and skin cancer relapse. The couple, who have dedicated 18 years to running school training programs in Afghanistan, remain imprisoned without charge, and the family has appealed both privately and publicly to the Taliban leadership. Despite some limited contact and a recent visit by UK Foreign Office officials, the couple has been held in harsh conditions, including time in a maximum security prison without natural sunlight. The United Nations is expected to issue a statement calling for their immediate release, while political analysts warn that unjustified detention of foreign nationals risks damaging Afghanistan's international relations. Family members and observers emphasize the need for the Taliban to adopt a flexible and transparent approach toward foreign detainees to restore global trust. These repeated pleas come amid concerns that the elderly couple could die in custody if not released soon.