British couple in their 70s arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan
GuardianFEB 24
British Couple in Their 70s Detained by Taliban
Above: Bamiyan province, Afghanistan, pictured on Nov. 4, 2024. Image copyright: Mohammad Faisal Naweed/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Peter and Barbie Reynolds, a British couple in their 70s, were this month arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan, their children told the media this weekend.
The pair married in Kabul in 1970 and had run training projects in Afghanistan for the last 18 years, deciding to stay in the country in spite of the Taliban's return to power in 2021.
Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, told the BBC they were detained at their home in Bamiyan on Feb. 1, but they have not been heard from in over two weeks.
The Spin
Narrative A
The UK Foreign Office is aware of two British nationals being held in Afghanistan. However, assistance is limited as the UK does not recognize the Taliban and has no diplomatic presence in the country.
Narrative B
Peter and Barbie Reynolds love Afghanistan. They are appealing directly to the Taliban rather than seeking help from the UK government. They need to be freed so they can continue serving the Afghan government and people.
Nerd narrative
There's a 10% chance that the US will recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
