The UK government is “in negotiations” over three Britons held by the Taliban in Afghanistan, the home secretary has said.
The three British men include so-called “danger tourist” Miles Routledge, charity medic Kevin Cornwell and an unnamed UK national who manages a hotel in Kabul.
They are all believed to have been held by Taliban secret police since January in separate incidents, it emerged on Saturday.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “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.
“The government is in negotiations and working hard to ensure people’s safety is upheld.”
Asked directly if the government was in negotiations, Ms Braverman replied: “If there are problems and if there are safety concerns to British individuals abroad, then the FCO will be working actively to ensure people are safe.”
She added that anybody travelling to dangerous parts of the world “should take the utmost caution” and should always act on the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
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Earlier, an FCDO spokesman said: “We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families.”
Scott Richards from the Presidium Network non-profit organisation, which is assisting Mr Cornwell and the unnamed Briton, told Sky News that he believes the pair are in good health and being well treated.
But he added: “There has been no meaningful contact [with the men], there has been no access by international monitoring agencies… and there’s been no other form of access to the individuals to date.”
He said he was “very hopeful” they would have contact with the men.
