The party went to Central Asia “despite travel advice,” according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the nationals would “soon be reunited with their families” and applauded “british diplomats’ hard work to reach this outcome.”
It remained unclear who the liberated British people were or when they were detained by the Taliban, but the foreign ministry confirmed in February that they were assisting ‘a handful’ of citizens being held in Afghanistan.
Among those detained was distinguished British journalist Peter Jouvenal, 64, who was arrested in Kabul on December 13.
‘We applaud and appreciate the release of five British people who were held in Afghanistan by the present Afghan administration,’ stated a spokesperson for the FCDO.
‘These British people played no part in the UK government’s work in Afghanistan and went against the UK government’s travel advice.’ It was a blunder on my part.
‘We express our apologies for any transgression of Afghan culture, customs, or laws on behalf of the British nationals’ families, and we assure them of future good behavior.
‘This episode has been regretted by the UK Government.’
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted: ‘Pleased the UK has secured the release of 5 British nationals detained in Afghanistan.
‘They will soon be reunited with their families. I am grateful for the hard work of British diplomats to secure this outcome.’
Three other foreign nationals have been released by the Taliban in recent months. A Canadian woman was freed in March after spending around a month in detention.
While in February, former BBC South Asia correspondent Andrew North and another foreign journalist were released by the Taliban after a week in custody.
The pair were in the country on an assignment for the UN refugee agency, according to reports.
Jouvenal has been held in a separate group since early December while visiting Afghanistan for business and family reasons.
Jouvenal, a Muslim man who is married to an Afghan woman, has been travelling to Afghanistan for more than 40 years as a freelance cameraman, businessman and investor.
His friends and family said in a statement in February that they fear he may have been detained ‘in error’ and released a public plea in which they said they were ‘deeply concerned for his safety’.
‘He is being held without charge, and with no freedom to contact his family or lawyers,’ they said.
‘Peter’s family and friends believe that he may have been detained in error, as he was in Afghanistan to discuss investments in Afghanistan’s mining industry as well as conducting family business. Before his arrest he was working openly and had frequent meetings with senior Taliban officials.
‘We urgently request that the Afghan authorities release Peter. He suffers from high blood pressure and needs medication. There is a high threat of Covid infection in the Afghan prison system.’
After years of conflict and drought, Afghanistan descended into chaos last August when the Taliban seized power as US and NATO forces withdrew from the country they had invaded two decades before.
The Taliban swiftly implemented stringent regulations, such as edicts ordering women to cover their faces in public save for their eyes and prohibiting girls from continuing their education above sixth grade.
The Afghan economy crumbled as a result of international sanctions, and millions of people sank into poverty.
The United Nations and other aid organizations have been trying to raise the $4.4 billion in humanitarian aid that is needed in Afghanistan this year.
Meanwhile, bombings and other attacks on civilians have persisted.
A bitter Taliban rival – the Islamic State group’s Afghanistan affiliate – has claimed responsibility for most of the attacks.