Five British nationals being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been released, with the UK Foreign Office admitting it had been a “mistake” for them to go to the country against official travel advice.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she is pleased the five would soon be reunited with their families.

The Foreign Office said the government “regrets this episode”.

“We welcome and appreciate the release by the current administration of Afghanistan of five British nationals who were detained in Afghanistan,” a Foreign Office spokesman said.

“These British nationals had no role in the UK government’s work in Afghanistan and travelled to Afghanistan against the UK government’s travel advice. This was a mistake.

“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.

“The UK government regrets this episode.”

Afghanistan: The Taliban had promised ‘amnesty for all’ – but they are responsible for most violence against civilians

Afghanistan: Taliban force women newsreaders to wear face coverings – as male colleagues act in solidarity

Afghanistan: Taliban gives ‘non-negotiable’ order for all female TV presenters to cover faces on air

The Foreign Office would not confirm details about the five people who were detained.

Read more:
The Taliban takeover
Two journalists detained by Taliban released

But one Briton known to have been held in Afghanistan is Peter Jouvenal, a TV cameraman and businessman.

Mr Jouvenal, a British/German dual national, has been held since early December and was visiting the country for business and family reasons, his friends said.

Related posts:

EU is ‘very publicly flexing its muscles’ in row with AstraZeneca Biden issues new Russia sanctions and expels 10 diplomats for election interference and hacking 6,000 migrants including children swim from Morocco to Spanish enclave of Ceuta Revealed: The 20 companies producing more than half of world’s single-use plastic waste Hope is all they have left: No good options left for refugees waiting in sewage-filled canal ‘The world has let us down’: Afghan pop star describes ‘horrifying’ escape from Kabul ‘Very high risk of terror attack’ against the evacuation operation by UK and its allies – UK source US pledges to help people leave Afghanistan after 31 August deadline UK paid out for 289 Afghan civilian deaths, analysis shows – with one family getting just £104 CIA’s Vienna station chief recalled after mysterious ‘Havana syndrome’ hits US spies ‘He absolutely will do it’: Why Putin seems poised to attack Ukraine – after one of surest signs yet North Korea launches suspected ballistic missile in seventh test this year