TALIBAN RELEASE FIVE BRITISH CITIZENS

The Afghan government has released five British citizens from custody, British officials said Monday 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 Monday 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 U.K. government’s work in Afghanistan and traveled to Afghanistan against the U.K. government’s travel advice,” it said. “This was a mistake.”

The statement concluded, “The U.K. government regrets this episode.”

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban government spokesperson, said on Twitter Monday that the detained Britons had been “carrying out activities against the country’s laws and traditions of the people of Afghanistan.”

Mujahid said the Britons “left for their country” Sunday following “successive meetings” between the British and Afghan governments after about six months in custody.

The British statement did not identify the men, but the family of 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.