The British couple, who were detained by the Afghan Taliban, have been released and have run out of the country, officials with knowledge of the matter told CNN on Friday.
Peter, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, in the mid-70s, were arrested by the Taliban from their home in Bamiyan, Afghanistan in February.
UN experts warned in July that their health is “incredibly deteriorating” and that there is a risk of irreparable harm and death.
The pair were released in an agreement through Qatar after months of negotiations, sources said. It is unclear why the couple was arrested.
They undergo a health check in Qatar’s capital, Doha, before traveling to the UK.
The “breakthrough” in the case came when the Taliban moved Reynolds separately from Kabul’s central prison – to a much larger equipped facility, reintegrating them, and ensuring improved conditions “at the final stages of negotiations,” the source added.
The married couple lived in Afghanistan for 18 years. There, he ran “Rebuild,” a business that provided training services to a variety of companies and organizations across the country.
International aid groups that retreated from Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s oppressive regime and persecution of women and girls have chosen to stay.
“They have always been open about their presence and their work. They will respect and follow the law enthusiastically as they change,” their children said in a letter to the Taliban, which they shared with the Associated Press in February.
During detention, Peter Reynolds suffered from two eye infections on his head and left arm and intermittent tremors, causing serious concern.
Barbie Reynolds suffered anemia during her custody, leaving her weak and frail, perhaps due to the poor food quality and quantity for months, UN experts said.
“The Qatar Embassy in Kabul has provided them with critical support, including access to doctors, delivery of medications and regular communication with their families,” the source told CNN.
