Elderly couple held by Taliban returns to Britain with Qatar's help

The elderly British-Afghan couple returns to Britain on Saturday after their release from a 7-month detention under the Taliban regime.

High-level negotiations between the UK and the Taliban, mediated by Qatar, have been praised by the family and seen as a reminder of the value of diplomacy in reducing tensions during conflicts.

"This experience has reminded us of the power of diplomacy, empathy and international cooperation. We are forever grateful to the Qatari and British governments for standing with us during this difficult time. Thank you for giving us our family back," said Sarah Entwistle, daughter of the British couple.

Having Afghan citizenship, Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, lived there for nearly two decades and are due to fly to the UK on Saturday after being reunited with their daughter in Qatar.

There were emotional scenes when Entwistle met her parents after a long time, as they stepped off the plane in Doha, according to the BBC.

'We will continue to push for mediation and diplomacy,' Qatar says

"Actually, it's continuous efforts by my government to keep our policy in helping to release hostages, and our mediation and diplomacy," Mirdef Ali Al-Qashouti, Acting Charge d'Affaires of the Qatar Embassy in Kabul, said. He added that Qatar was very grateful to Afghanistan and the UK for their cooperation to conclude this case in this way.

According to Qatari officials, their country will continue to promote peace and stability worldwide, as it remains committed to this path, where they argue it is clear that mediation works when both parties are willing to reach a deal.

"It's a very good moment for us to show our appreciation and to make sure that this is the way that we should deal with problems and conflicts, and how to resolve it with dialogue, with good manners and also with peaceful solutions," Al-Qashouti said.

They want to return to Afghanistan when possible

"We are looking forward to returning to Afghanistan if we can," Barbie told AFP at Kabul airport.

Also, "overwhelmed" by their release, their son Jonathan Reynolds told the British media that he was "ecstatic and massively grateful" to those who were involved in securing their release.

The Taliban, who detained the couple on their way home on 1 February, said the pair had broken Afghan laws and were released after judicial proceedings. Still, the Islamist group has never disclosed a reason for their detention.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised the "vital role" played by Qatar in securing their release.