UPDATE: UK government ‘in negotiations’ says Home Secretary after three British men detained by Taliban in Afghanistan  

UPDATE April 2 (11. 55 am) – Home Secretary Suella Braverman has announced that the UK government is negotiating after three British men have been taken into Taliban custody 

Following the announcement about three British nationals being detained by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, the UK Home Secretary has said that the government is “in negotiations”.   

A statement by Suella Braverman cited by Evening Standard said, “Anyone travelling to dangerous parts of the world should take the utmost caution”, adding, “If they are going to do that they should always act on the advice of the Foreign Office travel advice. 

“If there are risks to people’s safety if they’re a British citizen abroad, then the UK government is going to do whatever it takes to ensure that they’re safe”, said Braverman.  

She also stated that “the Government is in negotiations and working hard to ensure people’s safety is upheld.” 

Braverman continued that “If there are problems and if there are safety concerns to British individuals abroad then the FCDO will be working actively to ensure people are safe”.  

Meanwhile, a statement by the co-founder of the Presidium Network, where two of the detained brits work, said that “I am told that those men are in good health and being treated well”.  

Scott Richards also stated that “I have no reason to believe they have been subject to any poor treatment whatsoever”.  

Richards said that he has not had any contact with the men, as they are being held in an intelligence facility meant for foreigners.  

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ORIGINAL April 2 (8.20 am) – Two British nationals working for a UK-based NGO were detained in Afghanistan by the Taliban after weapon was found with a missing licence 

Taliban administration in Afghanistan has detained two British nationals, as per a recent statement issued by a UK-based humanitarian organisation.  

According to the BBC on Sunday, April 2, one of the men detained has been named Kevin Cornwell, after a statement was issued by Scott Richards of the Presidium Network.  

Richards, who represents the UK-based non-profit organisation said that 53-year-old Cornwell had been arrested along with another unnamed British national in January 2023.  

He confirmed that both worked for the charity as Cornwell is a paramedic and said that “no official charges”, have been issued as such, as the two men were detained “over a weapon in a safe”, which the officials found in Cornwell’s room.  

Richard stated that the weapon had been stored along with a licence that was issued by the Afghan interior ministry, but “that licence is missing”.  

“We have taken several statements from witnesses who have seen the licence and affirm its existence”, he added.  

Richard continued, “It is perfectly possible that during the search the licence was separated from the weapon and, as such, why we refer to this scenario as a probable misunderstanding”.  

As per reports, the British foreign office has also informed that they are working hard to contact the men.  

Aside from them, a third British national has also been reported as detained in Afghanistan. 

The BBC stated that 23-year-old Miles Routledge, from Birmingham, is believed to have been taken into custody on a different date.

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