A British couple released by the Taliban in Afghanistan last week say they were detained in 10 different prisons and at one point thought they would be executed.
Peter, 80, and wife Barbie Reynolds, 76, said it was never explained to them why they were being held, nor why they were released.
The couple, who have run a charity programme in Afghanistan for almost two decades, arrived back in the UK on Saturday after seven and a half months in detention.
Good, old-fashioned diplomacy ended their ordeal, Hamish Falconer, minister for the Middle East, told the BBC, and again thanked the government of Qatar, which helped mediate their release.
Both suffered health problems while in prison, including severe anaemia. Taliban officials maintained they received adequate medical care during their detention and that their human rights were respected.
They were arrested on 1 February this year after taking a chartered flight from Kabul to Bamiyan province, along with friend Faye Hall and their translator who were later released.
A spokesperson for the Taliban foreign ministry, speaking after their release, said they had served their time but did not reveal the reasons for their detention.
Peter Reynolds mentioned, We have a lot to process. We are leaving behind quality people, our home, and all our possessions.
Since 2009, the couple have been running training projects in Kabul and Bamiyan, including education initiatives for women and children that had apparently been approved by local authorities despite Taliban restrictions.
One of the prisons they were held in was Pul-e-Charkhi, a notorious maximum-security facility. During their imprisonment, they endured conditions such as being kept in basement cells and facing the emotional trauma of separation after 55 years of marriage.
Upon returning to the UK, the couple expressed gratitude for their release but also deep concern for the future of Afghanistan, stating, We are confident in the many wonderful Afghans we know to bring about a positive future for their country without us. They have no immediate plans to return, especially as the UK government warns travelers against visiting Afghanistan.
