3 British nationals detained by Taliban’s secret police unit

The United Kingdom’s officers have been making an attempt to safe contact with the trio diplomatically and have reportedly been extending help to their households too. 

New Delhi,UPDATED: Apr 2, 2023 12:19 IST

Ousting the Ashraf Ghani-led authorities, the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021. (Representative Image)

By India Today World Desk: Three British males, together with a charity employee and a “danger tourist”, have been held below the custody of the Taliban in Afghanistan. The United Kingdom’s officers have been making an attempt to safe contact with the trio diplomatically and have reportedly been extending help to their households too.

As per experiences, the Taliban’s secret police unit detained 53-year-old Kevin Cornwell, and one other British man who labored for help employees in Kabul, was detained by Taliban police in January.

The third British nationwide, recognized as Miles Routledge, who travelled to Afghanistan for a “holiday” has been detained.

He was earlier evacuated by UK armed forces lower than two years in the past, on the time of Ashraf Ghani’s ouster and the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. He had returned to the nation to pay a go to.

UK GOVERNMENT ACTION

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed it has been making an attempt consular contact with British nationals.

” We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families,” The Guardian quoted an FCDO official as saying.

As per a report by the Mail, Cornwell was arrested throughout a raid by Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) officers on January 11. He was accused of possessing unlawful firearms in his rented room at Darya Village Hotel. The lodge’s British nationwide was additionally arrested on this account.

It is claimed that each males have been held in a safe unit for overseas nationals operated by the GDI. The costs for his or her arrests haven’t been introduced up and they’re denied any authorized illustration both.

Also, their households are being supported by a British nonprofit organisation.

NGO OFFICIAL SAID

Scott Richards, the negotiator with the British NGO, has stated that the Taliban’s GDI may need been appearing on a tip. He additionally talked about that Kevin’s room was saved with the license issued by the Taliban itself and that the weapon was by no means taken out of the secure nor had it been carried.

Richards additionally said there was no readability on the authorized course of in Afghanistan, together with one’s proper to illustration and costs too.

(With Agencies Input)

Published On:

Apr 2, 2023