An elderly British couple imprisoned in Aghanistan could soon be set free after Taliban leaders promised their case “will soon be resolved” and “should not be a cause for concern”.

Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife of 54 years, Barbie, 75, were detained in February while returning from Kabul to their home in Bamyan province.

They are being kept in squalid conditions alongside rapists and murderers inside Afghanistan's most notorious jail described as “the nearest thing to hell”.

During their nine-week incarceration the Taliban have failed to shed any light on what crime the pensioners are alleged to have committed.

The pair are being kept in separate cells and in the Afghan prison system, women are fed just once a day, while there is more food for the men. In addition, the women “have to pay for their own food”.

They were arrested alongside Faye Hall, an American friend who has since been freed, and a translator they employed.

But now Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani said the matter was “not that big” but failed to go into further detail.

However, he added: “The only thing I can say is that the matter was previously with the Interior Ministry and it has now been handed over to the courts.

“Their problem (crime) is not that big. God willing, their problem will soon be resolved and a shariah (Islamic law) decision will be made. It is a small matter and should not be a cause for concern.”

The couple's son Jonathan said last week he has been “interacting” with the US government after a video plea to President Donald Trump for help to get his parents released.

He told BBC News the UK Government has also been “very, very supportive” of his family and he is now in contact with US government agencies.

Mr Reynolds' parents were detained alongside Ms Hall after she rented a plane to travel with them, and a translator from the couple's Rebuild training business.

In the recording made from his prison cell Mr Reynolds said: “I've been joined up with rapists by my ankles, ankle-cuffs, handcuffs.

“There is a guy here who killed his wife and three children, shouting away, a demon-possessed man.

“These things are an utter disgrace and shame so I'm appalled.”

Their son, who is a dual British and American citizen, said Ms Hall was released late last month.

"I think, for me, after seeing Faye Hall get out, I'm like, 'well, who did that?'," Mr Reynolds told BBC News.

"As an American - I'm a British citizen and American - I'm like, 'hey, I'm going to go to the American president, see if he can help'."

The Associated Press reports Ms Hall's release was part of a deal which Qatari negotiators helped to broker.

Mr and Mrs Reynolds have run school training programmes for 18 years and remained in the country after the Taliban takeover in 2021.

After taking power, the Taliban introduced a ban on women working and education for girls older than 12.

Since his video appeal, Mr Reynolds said he has been "interacting" with the US government.

"I have been interacting with the state department and few other agencies since my video reach out this week which has been encouraging," he said.

"I mean, it's a very, very tricky situation for any nation working with Afghanistan and the Taliban."

Mr Reynolds' sister Sarah Entwistle previously raised concerns over her father's heart condition and his deteriorating health.

Ms Entwistle and Mr Reynolds' parents have been detained for more than two months, their son said.

He said: "One of the complicated parts is my parents have adamantly said they want to stay there, they want to be released from prison because they've done nothing wrong, but they want to be released so they can carry on doing the work they're doing.

"This just speaks to the character and the stamina and the vision and conviction that they have of why they're there."

The couple, who originally met at the University of Bath, married in Kabul in 1970.