British couple released after detention in Afghanistan say they feared being executed

Barbie Reynolds, 76, and husband Peter, 80, said it was never explained to them why they were imprisoned

A British couple who were reunited with their family in the UK after being released from almost eight months in detention in Afghanistan have said they feared being executed by the Taliban.

Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife, Barbie, 76, who arrived at Heathrow on Saturday, said it was never explained to them why they were imprisoned in Afghanistan after their arrest in February.

“We began to think that we would never be released, or that we were even being held until we were executed,” Peter told the Sunday Times. He added: “We are bewildered as to why any of this happened and are very happy that this ordeal is over.”

Barbie said: “They told us nothing. Even when we were taken to Kabul airport we thought maybe we were just flying somewhere for medical treatment.” Instead, they were put on flight to Doha, the capital of Qatar, whose officials had led negotiations for their release.