ISLAMABAD: The Taliban have detained three British nationals in Afghanistan, it has been reported.
The Brits held under custody include Kevin Cornwell, a 53-year-old charity medic, Miles Routledge, a 23-year-old self-styled “danger tourist”, who returned to the war-torn country after being evacuated by British military less than two years ago during the Kabul airlift after he travelled there for a “holiday” and was caught up in the chaos of the US withdrawal, and an unnamed British national who manages a hotel for aid workers in Kabul. The men are believed to have been detained by the Taliban’s secret police in January.
Presidium Network, a UK non-profit that works in conflict zones, tweeted on Saturday that they have been working with the families of Cornwell and Routledge “in support of finding a resolution and release for the detainees.”
Presidium Network has been working closely with 2 of the families concerning their detention by the GDI and in support of finding a resolution and release for the detainees.https://t.co/X8SL817mr5
— Presidium Network (@PresidiumNet) April 1, 2023
Cornwell, who had been working as a medic in Afghanistan for Iqarus International which provides free health care to local people, was arrested in a raid at his hotel by officers from the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) on January 11. Taliban agents had accused him of possessing an illegal firearm in the safe in his room at the Darya Village Hotel, a place popular among the Western humanitarian staff, Daily Mail reported.
His family said the Taliban government had granted him a licence for the handgun.
The GDI also detained the hotel’s manager, a UK national, in the raid.
The pair have been held ever since in a secure unit for foreign nationals run by the GDI. No charges have been brought against them and they have not been granted legal representation.
Working to contact the detainees, says FCDO
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) said in a statement that it was trying to secure consular contact with the detained British nationals and also supporting their families.
Scott Richards from the non-profit Presidium, which is assisting Cornwell and the unnamed hotelier, told Sky News that he believes the two men are in good health and being well treated.
But he added that there has been no meaningful contact with the detained men till date.
“We are very hopeful that contact will be made,” he said.
Presidium hopes that a positive development in the situation could be made by the end of Ramazan and the celebration of Eid.
