5 British men released by Taliban as UK expresses regret

KABUL (NYTIMES) - The Afghan government has released five British citizens from custody, British officials said on Monday (June 20) in a statement that included an apology on behalf of the men and an expression of regret from the British government.

The Britons had been caught up in a crackdown on foreigners and Afghan civil society activists by the Taliban after they seized power in August. The British government did not comment on the circumstances of the men's release or why they had been imprisoned, but a Taliban spokesperson said they had violated Afghan laws and traditions.

The release coincided with a statement of contrition issued by Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

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

The statement said Britain welcomed the release.

"These British nationals had no role in the UK government's work in Afghanistan and travelled to Afghanistan against the UK government's travel advice," it said. "This was a mistake." The statement concluded, "The UK government regrets this episode."

Mr Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban government spokesperson, said on Twitter on Monday that the detained Britons had been "carrying out activities against the country's laws and traditions of the people of Afghanistan." He said the Britons "left for their country" Sunday following "successive meetings" between the British and Afghan governments after about six months in custody.

The men were detained during the chaotic weeks following the US exit from Afghanistan, when thousands of Afghans were trying to flee the country and the Taliban were struggling to maintain order.

The British statement did not identify the men, but the family of Mr Peter Jouvenal, a former journalist and businessman who is Muslim and is married to an Afghan, said he was among those released. The statement said he had endured "a long ordeal" while imprisoned for more than six months.

Mr Jouvenal was a longtime resident of Afghanistan who for years operated a guesthouse in Kabul frequented by international journalists, diplomats and aid workers.

In a statement in February, Mr Jouvenal's family and friends said he had been discussing investments in Afghanistan's mining industry and conducting family matters. The statement said he had been operating openly and was in frequent contact with senior Taliban officials.

The United States has said the Taliban continues to hold an American citizen, Mr Mark R. Frerichs, a US Navy veteran and civil engineer who was working as a contractor in Afghanistan when he was kidnapped by the Haqqani network of the Taliban in January 2020.

"He has done nothing wrong," President Joe Biden said in a statement in January on the anniversary of Mr Frerichs' abduction. "And yet for two years the Taliban has held him captive."