Taliban show off haul of US and Allied military kit

The mother of a man who has been captured by the Taliban has said she is desperate to know if he is safe. Miles Routledge, known as ‘danger tourist’, was reportedly arrested on March 2 alongside Polish nationals Adrian Wojcik, 22, and Roman Bilski, 24, and is being held for questioning.

According to the MailOnline, two of the other British men taken prisoner were allowed to make phone calls back home today.

The families of charity medic Kevin Cornwell, 53, and a British hotel manager told of their “great relief” at hearing their voices for the first time since they were arrested almost three months ago.

The phones calls – which were said to be unscripted – lasted just under two minutes.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said this morning that the government is “in negotiations” with the Taliban for the release of the Britons – with Miles Routledge marking the third to be captured.

Miles, 23, first made headlines when he went on ‘holiday’ to Afghanistan in the midst of the Taliban taking over the country.

Miles decided to return to Afghanistan despite being branded an “idiot” after needing to be evacuated from Kabul when the country fell back into Taliban rule in 2021.

His mother reportedly fought back tears as she spoke about his disappearance. Mrs Routledge, 64, from Birmingham, told the Daily Mail she usually kept up to date with her son’s travels on social media, but he does not appear to have posted online since March 16.

Mrs Routledge said: ‘I’m distraught. It is so worrying. I just want help to find out what has happened to him and make sure he is OK.

“If he is being treated well that is good to hear, as long as he is being well treated. If I can get a message to those who are holding him, I just want to ask them to tell him he has my love and support.”

Mrs Routledge said she is yet to hear from the Home Office regarding her son’s disappearance.

“I am just desperate to know that he is safe,” she added. “I don’t know who is holding him or where he is”.

His mother said it was his love of travelling that saw him return to Afghanistan despite the criticism.

Don’t miss…
Man charged after acting suspiciously near official Scottish residence [INSIGHT]
Braverman addresses border queues fury as she says ‘it’s not Brexit'[COMMENT]
Pakistan ‘slipping into authoritarianism’ as fears of violence grow [PICTURES]

“He keeps travelling because he loves it, he’s only young and he’s just finding himself after finishing university. I just want him to keep safe,” she said.

A Taliban security officer said the group of three men were taking part in “suspicious activities”.

Scott Richards, a negotiator from the Presidium Network group, which is assisting the relatives of Mr Cornwell and the hotel manager, said: “We can confirm that the men have spoken with family, that the conversation was unscripted, and that they are being treated fairly.

“The families were able to speak to them for around two minutes and they could speak freely. It was clearly an important and emotional call and represents tremendous progress in the situation. The details of those calls are private but we understand a great relief to the families.

“The relief Kevin’s family expressed after hearing his voice for the first time in three months, not knowing if he was well, brought a sense of peace and gave them hope that this situation will be resolved soon.”

Source: Read Full Article