5 Britons released after 6 months in captivity

KABUL Pajhwok): Five Britons detained six month ago in Afghanistan by the Taliban have been released, the UK Foreign Office has said.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the five people released would “soon be reunited with their families”.

In a statement, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the British nationals detained by the Taliban had no role in the UK government’s work in Afghanistan.

A spokesman said the five had travelled to Afghanistan against the UK government’s travel advice, adding: “This was a mistake.”

He said: “On behalf of the families of the British nationals, we express their apologies for any breach of Afghan culture, customs or laws, and offer their assurance of future good conduct.

“The UK government regrets this episode.”

On Sunday, a diplomat at the UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha issued a statement seeking to reassure the Afghan authorities that the UK “does not support anyone, including Afghan nationals, seeking to achieve political change through violence”, and promising that it would “not allow UK soil to be used to plan or prepare” violence.

A spokesman for the caretaker Afghan government, Bilal Karimi, told Pajhwok Afghan News the detainees were released after a series of meetings with the British government and handed over to their country of origin.”

He added that the detainees had  promised to abide by the laws of Afghanistan, the traditions and culture of the people and not to violate them again. According to him, Afghanistan is now safe for all, and anyone can come to it for charity and tourism.

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