(MENAFN) An older British pair held in Afghanistan has been set free by the temporary Taliban leadership on Friday after Qatar stepped in to mediate.

Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi stated that Barbie Reynolds, aged 76, and Peter Reynolds, 80, had broken Afghan regulations and “were released from prison today after a judicial process.”

The pair had been apprehended in February while making their way back to their residence in Bamiyan province.

Balkhi emphasized that incarceration matters should not be turned into political issues and expressed gratitude to Qatar for its “sincere efforts and facilitation of the mediation.”

The provisional government transferred the British citizens to Richard Lindsay, the United Kingdom’s special representative for Afghanistan, who was joined by a Qatari team.

Lindsay described it as a "great day" for the British nationals.

"We are delighted they are able to be reunited with their loved ones, their families," Lindsay remarked.

"We are very, very grateful indeed for the support we've had from the government of Qatar to secure their release."

The UK envoy also appreciated the Afghan officials "for the way in which they (British couple) have been treated and looked after in the last few months."

According to a Qatari state-run news outlet, the couple reached Hamad International Airport in Doha and are expected to travel onward to London.

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