British men in Afghanistan make emotional phone calls to family

One of the detainees has gained notoriety for online posts about his travels to dangerous countries

Miles Routledge returned to Afghanistan after being flown out by British armed forces less than two years ago. Miles Routledge Twitter

Two of three British men who are being held in Taliban custody in Afghanistan have been able to speak to their families in "emotional" calls.

Media reports have identified the three men as charity medic Kevin Cornwell, 53, an unidentified manager of a hotel for aid workers in Kabul and "danger tourist" Miles Routledge.

Mr Routledge returned to the country after being flown out by British armed forces less than two years ago.

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman on Sunday said her government was holding negotiations after the three men were detained.

“The government is in negotiations and working hard to ensure people's safety is upheld,” Ms Braverman told Sky News.

The UK Foreign Ministry said: “We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families."

The non-profit group the Presidium Network said on Twitter it had been “working closely with two of the families”.

“We believe they are in good health and being well treated,” Scott Richards, co-founder of the Presidium Network, told Sky News.

“We have no reason to believe they've been subject to any negative treatment such as torture and we're told that they are as good as can be expected in such circumstances.”

But he said there had been “no meaningful contact” between authorities and the two men Presidium was assisting.

"We can confirm the men have spoken with the family, the conversation was unscripted, and that they are being treated fairly," Mr Richards tweeted of the calls Mr Cornwell and the unidentified man had with their families.

"The family was able to speak for one minute to one minute and a half and to speak freely, clearly what is an important and emotional call."

He said the call "represents tremendous progress in the situation".

"The details of that call are private but we understand a great relief to the family," Mr Richards said.

"The relief Kevin's family expressed after hearing his voice for the first time in three months, not knowing if he was well, brought a sense of peace and gave them hope that this situation will be resolved soon."

The two men are believed to have been held by the Taliban since January.

It is not known how long Mr Routledge, 23, has been held.

He has gained notoriety by travelling to dangerous countries and posting about it online.

In August 2021, he was on holiday in Afghanistan when he was caught up in the chaos in the capital as the Taliban took control of the country. He appears to have returned since.

Mr Cornwell was arrested at his hotel by officers from the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence on January 11. He was allegedly found keeping an illegal firearm in his room — a claim denied by his family.

Presidium on Twitter urged the Taliban to be “considerate of what we believe is a misunderstanding and release these men”.

Last year, the Taliban freed a veteran TV cameraman and four other British citizens they had been holding for six months.

Peter Jouvenal was one of a “number” of Britons the UK government said had been held by the hardline Afghan regime.

The UK Foreign Ministry said the five “had no role in the UK government's work in Afghanistan” and travelled to the country against the official travel advice.

“This is a mistake,” it added.

But Afghanistan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid had accused them of “carrying out activities against the country's laws and traditions of the people of Afghanistan”.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have banned university education for women nationwide. AFP

Women were stopped by armed guards from entering Afghan university campuses, a day after the nation's Taliban rulers banned them from higher education. AFP

The move has provoked condemnation from the United States and the United Nations over another assault on human rights in the country. Reuters

Taliban security personnel stand guard at the entrance gate of a university in Jalalabad. AFP

Schoolgirls return home after sitting their high school graduation exams in Kabul. AFP

An Afghan female student leaves the Mirwais Neeka Institute of Higher Education in Kandahar. EPA

A curtain separates males and females at a university lecture in Kandahar Province. AFP

“After consecutive meetings between the IEA [Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan] and Britain the said persons were released … and handed over to their home country,” he said at the time.

“They promised to abide by the laws of Afghanistan, its traditions and culture of the people and not to violate them again.”

The Taliban returned to power in August 2021 and has since sparked global outrage over its policies, particularly towards women and girls.

The UK Foreign Ministry continues to advise its citizens against all travel to Afghanistan due to the security risks, including possible detention by the Taliban authorities.

The situation in Afghanistan remains volatile and it would be unwise for anyone to enter the country without understanding the culture and the risks, Mr Richards said.