Taliban frees 5 Britons after apology from UK

Five Britons have been released from Taliban captivity in Afghanistan after London apologised for their conduct.

The prisoners – including former BBC cameraman Peter Jouvenal who has high blood pressure – spent six months behind bars and were in poor health.

Father-of-three Mr Jouvenal, 66, ran a hostel in Kabul known as a watering hole for foreign correspondents as well as being a journalist. He is also married to an Afghan.

Mystery surrounded their release last night after the UK Government said it would not be naming any of them.

it also remained unclear why they were arrested by the Taliban as none of them was ever charged in an Afghan court.

They were set free after a cryptic statement issued by the UK’s charge d’affairs for Afghanistan, Hugo Shorter.

He said: ‘The UK Government does not support anyone seeking to achieve political change through violence in Afghanistan, or any activity inciting violence for political purposes...

‘There is no alternative to engaging pragmatically with the current administration of Afghanistan.’

Officially, the UK does not recognise the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, as the group seized power in Kabul by force last year.

in a strange move, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the five had made a ‘mistake’ travelling to Afghanistan and insisted they were not doing official British Government work.

Last night the FCDO said: ‘On behalf of the families of the British nationals, we express their apologies for any breach of Afghan culture, customs or laws and offer their assurance of future good conduct.’

Mr Jouvenal’s family thanked FCDO staff who ‘worked tirelessly’ for his release.

Their release means no British citizens are presently being held by the Taliban.