and his wife Barbie, 76, who lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades, were on their way home when they were stopped on 1 February. The couple were freed on Friday morning through Qatari mediation. A Qatari official said they would fly to Qatar for medical checks before travelling to the UK, despite their long-term home being in Afghanistan's Bamiyan province. The Taliban said the pair had broken Afghan laws and were released after judicial proceedings - but has never disclosed the reason for their detention.

Their family said it was "a moment of immense joy", adding in a statement that they were "deeply thankful to everyone who played a role in securing their release". "This experience has reminded us of the power of diplomacy, empathy, and international co-operation," they said. "While the road to recovery will be long as our parents regain their health and spend time with their family, today is a day of tremendous joy and relief."

The family paid particular tribute to the "unwavering support" of the Qatari mediators, as well as the diplomatic efforts of the UK government and the support of the US and the UN. Peter and Barbie Reynolds married in Kabul in 1970 and spent the past 18 years running a charitable training programme that had been approved by local Taliban officials when the armed group reclaimed power in 2021. They have been described by family as having a lifelong love of Afghanistan, typified by their decision to remain there after the authoritarian regime seized control in August 2021, when many other Westerners left. (BBC)