LONDON: The family of elderly British couple Peter and Barbie Reynolds, detained for six months without charge in Afghanistan, fears the worst as their health declines.

“I don’t know if they’re still alive,” said their son, Jonathan Reynolds, who has not spoken to his parents since their last phone call on June 15.

“How would I know if they were no longer alive? Who’s going to call me? The Taliban never called me. Who’s going to call? I don’t know,” asked Reynolds, one of the couple’s four children.

Peter Reynolds, 80, and his 76-year-old wife were arrested in February along with Chinese-American friend, Faye Hall, who was released in March, and an Afghan translator.

The couple were married in Kabul in 1970, and have spent almost two decades living in Afghanistan running educational programmes after moving there. They also became official Afghan citizens.

Taliban officials have refused to detail why the couple was arrested in February as they were returning to their home in central Bamiyan province.

“They were told by the judge that they were not guilty of any crimes,” said their son.

“So many times we’ve been told two to three days and then you’ll be released ... But it’s six months on Saturday,” he added.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd, 2025