An American woman detained by the Taliban alongside a British couple has told the BBC that they are 'literally dying' in prison and that 'time is running out'.
Faye Hall was arrested with Peter, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76, on February 1 while returning to Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan, where the couple lived.
While Ms. Hall was released after two months, Peter and Barbie remain imprisoned without understanding the reasons for their detention.
The UK Foreign Office indicated they are supporting the families affected by this case.
In her first interview since being released, Ms. Hall expressed her anguish when discussing the couple's plight, saying, I love them, I know they will be out very soon, don't ever give up. Peter and Barbie have been married since 1970 and have lived in Afghanistan for 18 years. They possessed Afghan citizenship and operated a charity approved by the Taliban post-2021 takeover.
Ms. Hall recounted their traumatic experience, describing how they had been detained at a checkpoint after traveling back from Kabul to Bamiyan on a privately chartered flight.
She revealed that they were transferred among various police stations and prisons, witnessing first-hand the harsh conditions they endured in cramped cells surrounded by dangerous criminals.
Ms. Hall highlighted that the health of both Peter and Barbie had significantly declined, with Barbie unable to stand due to weight loss and Peter's condition worsening despite receiving medication for heart surgery and cancer.
We just have these elderly people; they're literally dying, and time is running out, she stated.
Adding to the distress, she mentioned the psychological impact of uncertainty: It's not a healthy environment, and we were the only foreigners there.
The couple's son conveyed his concerns, fearing that they might perish within the prison due to their deteriorating health conditions. The UN had earlier warned that without medical attention, the couple might die under the inhumane conditions.
Ms. Hall called on both the US and UK governments to intensify efforts to secure the couple's freedom, urging collaboration in these efforts.
The Foreign Office confirmed they are supporting the families of the detained British nationals and reassured that the matter is being handled with utmost seriousness.
Meanwhile, a US State Department representative condemned the Taliban's history of unjust detentions and urged for an end to their 'hostage diplomacy.'
As the situation develops, the Taliban's foreign minister claimed that Peter and Barbie are in constant contact with their families and that efforts for their release are underway, although not yet realized.
