Afghanistan: Three UK nationals detained by Taliban

Three British nationals were detained by the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, according to a British non-profit organization. The British foreign ministry said it was working to contact the three.

A British non-profit organization, the Presidium Network, told Sky News over the weekend that three British nationals are currently in the custody of the Taliban in Afghanistan. The organization said it was assisting two of the detainees, charity worker Kevin Cornwell and another unidentified man. The organization confirmed that British holidaymaker Miles Routledge was the third national to have been detained by the Taliban.

The two nationals the organization is assisting were detained by the Taliban secret police back on January 11. The Presidium Network’s Scott Richards said the arrests were related to a misunderstanding over what was a licensed weapon in Cornwell’s room. Richards added that there have been been “no meaningful contact” between the Taliban authorities and the two nationals.

“We believe that they are in good health and being well-treated,” said Richards. “We have no reason to believe that they’ve been subject to any negative treatment such as torture, and we’re told that they are as good as can be expected in such circumstances.”

The British foreign office, in a statement on Saturday, said it was providing assistance to the families of the three nationals. British home secretary Suella Braverman also reiterated to Sky News that those who are traveling “to dangerous parts of the world should take the utmost caution” and heed the advice of the foreign office.

“If there are risks to people’s safety, if they’re a British citizen abroad, then the UK government is going to do whatever it takes to ensure that they’re safe. The government is in negotiations and working hard to ensure people’s safety is upheld,” said Braverman.

Tuesday last week, the United Nations said a prominent advocate for Afghan girls’ education, Matiullah Wesa, was arrested by the Taliban in the capital Kabul and called on the authorities to clarify the details of Wesa’s arrest. The UN mission to Afghanistan has since called on the Taliban administration to release the details of Wesa’s arrest and ensure Wesa has access to legal representation and contact with family.