british tourist taliban

'Danger tourist' among three Britons held by Taliban - as government 'in negotiations' to ensure their safety

The three men include "danger tourist" Miles Routledge, who had to be rescued from Afghanistan in 2021 when Western forces pulled out of the country suddenly as the Taliban took over.

Political reporter @alixculbertson

Sunday 2 April 2023 10:07, UK

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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 "danger tourist" Miles Routledge, 23, charity medic Kevin Cornwell, 53, 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 .

Latest: Britons held by Taliban 'in contact' with families

Asked about the 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 over the three men, 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."

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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).

The FCDO advises UK citizens against all travel to Afghanistan based on the security risks involved, including the possibility of detention by the Taliban authorities.

It says there are no British consular officials in the country and the ability to provide consular assistance "is severely limited and cannot be delivered in person".

Taliban not a proscribed terrorist group

Earlier, an FCDO spokesman said: "We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families."

The UK maintains a rule of not negotiating with terrorists, but the Taliban in Afghanistan is not a proscribed terrorist group and Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is not subject to sanctions.

Mr Routledge has gained fame - and attracted controversy - by travelling to dangerous countries and posting about it online.

In August 2021, he was on a "holiday" in Afghanistan when he was caught up in the chaos in the capital as the Taliban took control of the country.

He chose the war-torn country having looked up a list of the most dangerous places to visit in the world, despite the Taliban taking control of more and more of the country at the time.

Mr Routledge thanked the British Army after he was among those to leave during the Kabul airlift when the UK and allied forces left the country suddenly as the Taliban took over.

He appears to have returned to the country since then.

Scott Richards from the Presidium Network non-profit organisation, which is assisting Mr Cornwell and the unnamed Briton, told Sky News he believes the pair are in good health and are 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.

Mr Cornwell was arrested at his hotel by officers from the Taliban's general directorate of intelligence on 11 January.

He is accused of having an illegal firearm in the safe in his room, but his family say he had been granted a licence for the firearm.

Mr Richards said this was a "misunderstanding" and the licence may have become separated from the firearm during the search.

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Three British nationals including ‘danger tourist’ held by Taliban in Afghanistan

One has been named as so-called ‘danger tourist’ miles routledge, who was previously evacuated from afghanistan by the british army in 2021, article bookmarked.

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Three British men are being held in the custody of the Taliban in Afghanistan .

One includes so-called “danger tourist” Miles Routledge , Sky News reports. Mr Routledge was previously evacuated from Afghanistan by the British armed forces in August 2021, but recently decided to return.

One other British national has been identified as charity medic Kevin Cornwell. The third has not been named but is understood to be a UK national managing a hotel in Kabul.

Mr Cornwell - 53 - was arrested at his hotel by officers from the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) in January. He is accused of possessing an illegal firearm, kept in the safe in his room. However, his family have reported that he had been granted a licence for it.

“I’ve seen the Taliban, I’ve been speaking to the locals who have seen them kill people, beat people up for not wearing burqas or for wearing eyeliner or mascara,” Mr Routledge told The Spectator after he was safely evacuated to Dubai in 2021.

Mr Routledge’s Twitter states that he goes “to the most dangerous places on Earth for fun”, listing off recent destinations as Afghanistan, South Sudan and Ukraine.

In February, he tweeted that if he was ever placed on a “no fly list”, he would take an “Uber to Afghanistan.”

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told The Independent that it is “working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families.”

“We engage pragmatically with the Taliban on HMG priorities, including consular cases like these, human rights, counter-terrorism and humanitarian. HMG policy is to recognise states, not governments”,  it added.

“We continue to advise against all travel to Afghanistan based on the security risks, including detention.”

The Independent recently launched a petition calling for the UK to support Afghan war heroes who served alongside British forces.

Notably, an  Afghan  war veteran  who served alongside British  armed forces  is among those who have fled to the UK on small  boats  and are now being threatened with deportation to  Rwanda .

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A self-styled "danger tourist" from Birmingham is one of three British nationals being held by the Taliban's secret police in Afghanistan, according to reports. Birmingham graduate Miles Routledge, 23, returned to the country after being evacuated by British armed forces less than two years ago during the Kabul airlift.

It was reported at the time he was caught up in the chaos of the Taliban takeover. However Routledge was detained again on a second trip to the war-torn country, on March 2, according to the Daily Mail .

Two other Britons, charity medic Kevin Cornwell, 53, and a second man who manages a hotel in Kabul, are understood to have been held by Taliban secret police since January following a separate incident. So who is Miles Routledge and why has been held by the Taliban for a second time?

READ MORE: Mum of Birmingham 'danger tourist' detained by Taliban says he went to Afghanistan to 'find himself'

Who is Miles Routledge?

Miles Routledge, the controversial "danger tourist" from Birmingham , has gained fame - and attracted criticism - by travelling to dangerous countries and posting about it online.

He chose to enter the war-torn country in 2021 as the Taliban took control, but was given a space on a British Army evacuation flight out of Kabul, as many Afghans were left behind.

He appears to have returned to the country since then. Routledge goes by the name Lord Miles on Twitter, and has over 140,000 followers.

He brands himself as a person who will “go to the most dangerous places on Earth for fun.” He set up his YouTube page in 2020, and has shared videos from dangerous places across the world.

He has previously travelled to war-stricken South Sudan, and Ukraine. Routledge has just under 60,000 followers on YouTube and wrote: "My twitter offers goofy content as well as the serious day to day stuff, my YouTube is where quick videos are uploaded!"

It is unclear why Routledge, who studied physics at Loughborough University, travelled to Afghanistan for a second time. It is believed he intended to shoot footage for his social media accounts.

He is seen in previous videos with Taliban members firing automatic weapons.

Mother 'distraught'

Susan Routledge, Miles' mother, told the Daily Mail : "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."

"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. Scott Richards, a negotiator from the Presidium Network group, who are assisting the relatives of Mr Cornwell and the hotel manager, told the Mail: "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."

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Mother of danger tourist detained by Taliban in Afghanistan ‘desperate to know he is safe’

The mother of a 23-year-old being detained in Afghanistan by the Taliban says she is “distraught” and “desperate to know that he is safe”.

Youtuber Miles Routledge, who documents his travels to dangerous places online, is one of three British men being held by the Taliban .

Charity medic and married dad Kevin Cornwell, 53, from Middlesbrough, and another unnamed man who manages a hotel for aid workers in Kabul have been detained since January.

Mr Cornwell and the unnamed man have been allowed to make phone calls to their relatives.

Mr Routledge was reportedly detained by the Taliban on March 2, but his mother, Susan Routledge, says she has not been allowed to speak to him.

“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,” Mrs Routledge told the Daily Mail .

“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,” she added.

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

Scott Richards, an experienced negotiator with conflict zone charity Presidium Network, has been assisting the men’s families.

He said Mr Cornwell and the unnamed Briton spent 10 minutes in conversation with their families on Sunday morning.

He told Sky News: “We’re very pleased to announce that there has been contact between families and the detainees.

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“They were able to spend about 10 minutes this morning in an unscripted conversation, which is very important. This is a landmark move and for any negotiation with the Taliban, because we haven’t seen any of this privilege before.

“They’ve certainly taking this as a goodwill gesture and an incredibly important step.”

Mr Routledge, a former Loughborough University physics student, had recently posted videos of him firing assault weapons with members of the Taliban.

Married father Mr Cornwell, from Middlesbrough, had been in Afghanistan for 11 months working as a medic for Iqarus International, which provides free healthcare to local people.

He was arrested in a raid at his hotel by officers from the General Directorate of Intelligence on January 11.

Mr Cornwell stands accused of having an illegal firearm in the safe in his room at the Darya Village Hotel, despite having a permit from the Taliban government.

The manager of the resort - popular with Western humanitarian staff - was also detained in the raid and both are being held in a secure unit for foreign nationals run by the GDI.

No charges have been brought and they have not been granted legal representation.

The UK withdrew embassy and consular staff in 2021 and the Foreign Office continues to advise citizens against all travel to Afghanistan based on the security risks involved, including the possibility of detention by the Taliban authorities.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families.”

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British men in Afghanistan make emotional phone calls to family

One of the detainees has gained notoriety for online posts about his travels to dangerous countries.

Miles Routledge returned to Afghanistan after being flown out by British armed forces less than two years ago. Miles Routledge Twitter

Two of three British men who are being held in Taliban custody in Afghanistan have been able to speak to their families in "emotional" calls.

Media reports have identified the three men as charity medic Kevin Cornwell, 53, an unidentified manager of a hotel for aid workers in Kabul and "danger tourist" Miles Routledge.

Mr Routledge returned to the country after being flown out by British armed forces less than two years ago.

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman on Sunday said her government was holding negotiations after the three men were detained.

“The government is in negotiations and working hard to ensure people's safety is upheld,” Ms Braverman told Sky News.

The UK Foreign Ministry said: “We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families."

The non-profit group the Presidium Network said on Twitter it had been “working closely with two of the families”.

“We believe they are in good health and being well treated,” Scott Richards, co-founder of the Presidium Network, told Sky News.

“We have no reason to believe they've been subject to any negative treatment such as torture and we're told that they are as good as can be expected in such circumstances.”

But he said there had been “no meaningful contact” between authorities and the two men Presidium was assisting.

"We can confirm the men have spoken with the family, the conversation was unscripted, and that they are being treated fairly," Mr Richards tweeted of the calls Mr Cornwell and the unidentified man had with their families.

"The family was able to speak for one minute to one minute and a half and to speak freely, clearly what is an important and emotional call."

He said the call "represents tremendous progress in the situation".

"The details of that call are private but we understand a great relief to the family," Mr Richards said.

"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."

1/ Update: ""We can confirm the men have spoken with the family, the conversation was unscripted, and that they are being treated fairly. The family was able to speak for one minute to one minute and a half and to speak freely, clearly what is an important and emotional call..." — Presidium Network (@PresidiumNet) April 2, 2023

The two men are believed to have been held by the Taliban since January.

It is not known how long Mr Routledge, 23, has been held.

He has gained notoriety by travelling to dangerous countries and posting about it online.

In August 2021, he was on holiday in Afghanistan when he was caught up in the chaos in the capital as the Taliban took control of the country. He appears to have returned since.

Mr Cornwell was arrested at his hotel by officers from the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence on January 11. He was allegedly found keeping an illegal firearm in his room — a claim denied by his family.

Presidium on Twitter urged the Taliban to be “considerate of what we believe is a misunderstanding and release these men”.

Last year, the Taliban freed a veteran TV cameraman and four other British citizens they had been holding for six months.

Peter Jouvenal was one of a “number” of Britons the UK government said had been held by the hardline Afghan regime.

The UK Foreign Ministry said the five “had no role in the UK government's work in Afghanistan” and travelled to the country against the official travel advice.

“This is a mistake,” it added.

But Afghanistan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid had accused them of “carrying out activities against the country's laws and traditions of the people of Afghanistan”.

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have banned university education for women nationwide. AFP

“After consecutive meetings between the IEA [Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan] and Britain the said persons were released … and handed over to their home country,” he said at the time.

“They promised to abide by the laws of Afghanistan, its traditions and culture of the people and not to violate them again.”

The Taliban returned to power in August 2021 and has since sparked global outrage over its policies, particularly towards women and girls.

The UK Foreign Ministry continues to advise its citizens against all travel to Afghanistan due to the security risks, including possible detention by the Taliban authorities.

The situation in Afghanistan remains volatile and it would be unwise for anyone to enter the country without understanding the culture and the risks, Mr Richards said.

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Taliban holding three British men in detention in Afghanistan

Charity medic, hotelier and ‘danger tourist’ reportedly arrested by Taliban’s secret police in January

Three British men including a charity medic and a self-styled “danger tourist” are being held in custody by the Taliban in Afghanistan , it has been reported.

The Mail on Sunday said Kevin Cornwell, a 53-year-old charity medic, and another British national who manages a hotel for aid workers in Kabul, who has not been named, were detained by the Taliban’s secret police in January.

The other Briton being held is Miles Routledge, 23, who returned to the country after being evacuated by British armed forces less than two years ago during the Kabul airlift , after he travelled there for a “holiday” and was caught up in the chaos of the Taliban takeover.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed it was attempting to secure consular contact with the British nationals detained and was supporting their families.

An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families.”

A source said the UK government engages pragmatically with the Taliban on priorities including consular cases, human rights, counter-terrorism and humanitarian aid.

Cornwell, from Middlesbrough, was arrested in a raid by officers from the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) on 11 January, the Mail on Sunday reported, after Taliban agents accused him of having an illegal firearm in the safe in his room at the Darya Village Hotel. The hotel’s British manager was detained in the same raid.

Cornwell’s family said he was issued a licence for the handgun by the Taliban government. He had been in the country working as a medic for Iqarus International, which provides free health care to local people.

The two men detained in the raid have been held in a secure unit for foreign nationals run by the GDI. No charges have been brought and they have not been granted legal representation. Their families are being supported by Scott Richards, an experienced negotiator with Presidium Network, a British nonprofit organisation that works in conflict zones.

Richards said: “Having spoken with multiple witnesses to the events, it could be that we may be looking at a misunderstanding with GDI who may have been reacting to a tip.

“The weapon in Kevin’s room was stored with the licence issued by the Taliban’s ministry of interior and was apparently kept inside its holster.

“The weapon never left the safe, it had never been carried.”

Richards added: “The clear concern here is that the detainees have not been permitted access to consular officials or international observers.

“There is no clarity as to the legal process in Afghanistan such as the right to representation. There is no clarity on the charges.”

In June, five British nationals held by the Taliban for about six months including the former BBC cameraman and Afghanistan expert Peter Jouvenal were released .

It is understood that the five had been seized separately and British sources said nothing was given in return for their release except an apology by them.

The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Afghanistan based on the security risks, including detention.

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Brits detained by Taliban hold 'emotional call' with family for first time in months

• Afghanistan
• Sunday 2 April 2023 at 11:54pm

Charity medic Kevin Cornwell (right) and an unnamed British man spoke to their families for the first time in months. It isn't known whether 23-year-old Miles Routledge (left) has had contact with his, as Callum Watkinson reports

Two British men detained in Afghanistan by the Taliban have reportedly made contact with their family for the first time in three months.

Charity paramedic Kevin Cornwell, 53, from Middlesbrough, and an unnamed British man who manages a hotel for aid workers in the capital Kabul, were arrested by the Taliban's secret police in January, according to a non-profit organisation assisting them.

A third British man, a tourist and social media blogger Miles Routledge, 23, is also being held by the Taliban.

Earlier, the home secretary suggested the government is “in negotiations” over the safety of the three men.

Scott Richards, co-founder of the Presidium Network which is supporting Mr Cornwell and the other unnamed Brit, confirmed they had both had "emotional" calls with their families for the first time since January.

It is understood Mr Cornwell and the hotel manager have been taken to a general directorate of intelligence facility run by the Taliban for foreign nationals.

Mr Richards wrote on Twitter: “We can confirm the men have spoken with the family, the conversation was unscripted, and that they are being treated fairly.

“The family was able to speak for one minute to one minute and a half and to speak freely, clearly what is an important and emotional call".

Mr Richards said the call “represents tremendous progress in the situation”, adding: “The details of that call are private but we understand a great relief to the family.

“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.”

Mr Cornwell and the other unnamed Brit were arrested at a hotel in Kabul when Afghan intelligence officers found a gun in Mr Cornwell's hotel room safe on January 11.

The Presidium Network said the pair have been held without charge since they were arrested.

Afghan officers accused Mr Cornwell - who works for a charity providing free local healthcare and liaises with the likes of the United Nations and Unicef - of having an unlicensed gun. The Presidium Network said the firearm was licensed and that the arrests were part of a misunderstanding.

Asked about the situation on the Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme on Sky News, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “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," she added.

“And the government is in negotiations and working hard to ensure people’s safety is upheld.”

Pressed on whether government negotiations are currently happening, she replied: “If there are problems and if there are safety concerns to British individuals abroad then the FCDO will be working actively to ensure people are safe.”

But Mr Richards had said on Saturday that there had previously been no contact with the men.

He told ITV News that "there has to date been no meaningful interaction or interaction with consular officials, governments or anyone else" in the matter.

"That this has changed today, represents an enormous step forwards," he added.

It is not known how long Mr Routledge, a controversial YouTuber who travelled to Afghanistan on holiday days before the Taliban took over in 2021, has been held for.

Presidium Network said it is not in touch with or acting for Mr Routledge, who was airlifted out of Afghanistan in 2021 by the British military during the fall of Kabul.

According to his social media channels, he appears to have made a number of visits since to Afghanistan.

An account claiming to belong to the Taliban’s public relations department had been tweeting about Mr Routledge throughout March, calling him a "beloved brother" and denying rumours that he’d been arrested.

However, his accounts have been silent since the end of February.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said: “We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families.”

The UK no longer has an embassy or a consulate in Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of the country in August 2021.

The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Afghanistan based on the security risks, including detention.

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British danger tourist 'Lord Miles' released by Taliban captors - as he announces intention to 'pop down' to war-torn Israel

11 October 2023, 18:52

By Danielle DeWolfe

Self-proclaimed danger tourist 'Lord Miles' has announced his intention to visit Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Gaza - just days after being released by the Taliban following 8 months in captivity.

Listen to this article

Miles Routledge, 23, updated followers of his release 8 month after he captured by Taliban secret police - even posting a grinning selfie with his so-called 'captors'.

In a bizarre twist, he's since claimed he became "best mates" with Taliban's top commanders detaining him, even enjoying "picnics and dinners with higher ups".

The self-styled 'Lord' has now announced his desire to "pop down" to Israel just days after being released by the terrorist organisation.

Documenting his exploits on social media, Routledge has now amassed over 260k followers across YouTube and X.

8 months in Taliban Intelligence “custody”, best adventure I’ve had yet! All the previous tweets are true. Best mates with many top commanders after numerous picnics, lovely lads treated me as a guest! I will be returning to Kabul next month. pic.twitter.com/x2vOMPhYof — Lord Miles (@real_lord_miles) October 11, 2023

Taking to X (formely Twitter), Routledge said: "The Taliban guesthouse I stayed at for 8 months (not a jail) had 8+ Taliban guards who devoted themselves to being our servants.

"Anything we needed they got, very kind of them. Often played games with them or watched movies."

He even shared that he found himself "snickering" with members of the terrorist organisation while watching the latest Barbie movie.

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Routledge claimed at the time he was detained after he forget a permit required when entering a mountainous area of Afghanistan.

He claims his aim was to travel to "where the gold was located" before his arrest by the Taliban.

Confirming his return yesterday, the Foreign Office said Routledge was one of four Brits - including a UN aid worker - to be released.

However, he's now voiced his intention to venture to Israel after leaving Afghanistan - which he claims was the "best adventure I've had yet".

Announcing his intention to return to Kabul next month, he added that he's considering whether he should "pop down to Israel vs Palestine".

'Lord Miles' has previously ventured to a number of extreme locations in a bid to attract new followers.

A self-proclaimed 'British explorer', 'journalist' and 'charity', the 23-year-old took to X following his release to proclaim: "'Why did anyone worry in the slightest? No faith in me!

"I have pull. Literally was watching the new Barbie movie with the Taliban and saw some of your comments on their phones, all of us snickering. Hehe."

Bet https://t.co/QosfvnXy9L — Lord Miles (@real_lord_miles) October 11, 2023

Another post saw him interact with controversial influencer Andrew Tait, who was himself placed under arrest alongside his brother, Tristan, by Romanian authorities on suspicion human trafficking and rape.

Tait tweeted: "Romanian jail sounds much worse than Afganistan jail. Sounds like we need an emergency meeting... @real_lord_miles"

To which 'Lord Miles' replied: "Bet".

Recent years have seen the Loughborough University graduate survive "the most deadly island on the planet" - a reference to his trip to Snake Island in Brazil, home to the most venomous snakes in Latin America.

Other videos uploaded to YouTube include "Escaping the shelling, Kharkiv, Ukraine", "48 hours homeless in New York City" and "Illegally crossing the Mexican border".

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What It's Like Backpacking in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan as an American

D reaming of quitting your job to go traveling around the globe? Well, one American did just that on a quest to visit every country in the world and ended up at the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"There was an eerie silence and stillness in that moment, and those simple three words will forever be engraved in my mind," Eli Snyder, a 25-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri, told Newsweek , recalling the moment a Taliban official at the border looked him the eye and said "Welcome to Afghanistan" during his visit back in January.

The Taliban are a militant group that ruled Afghanistan in the late 1990s and early 2000s and regained control of the country in 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Americans are advised against traveling to Afghanistan. The U.S. Department of State warns that "travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe." Its current travel advisory for Afghanistan is "Level 4: Do Not Travel, due to armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping."

On May 17, three Spanish tourists were killed and four other foreigners were wounded in Bamiyan, a city just outside the Afghan capital of Kabul, after gunmen opened fire as the group walked through a market. The attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group, is believed to be the first assault against foreign tourists since the Taliban's takeover in 2021.

During Snyder's visit to Afghanistan, he explored several areas of the country, including Bamiyan. Speaking about the recent attack there, Snyder said: "That's absolutely heartbreaking and my thoughts and prayers are with the families affected. I'm not here to vouch for the Taliban...However, I will say that shooting is not a reflection of what travel to Afghanistan is like."

"In general I felt safe in Afghanistan...safer than big cities in the U.S. and Western Europe after dark, that's for sure," he said. "I live for visiting places as dissimilar as possible from how I've grown up in suburban America outside of Kansas City. Sometimes this means visiting a dangerous place. But it remains true, as I'd much rather visit Pyongyang [the North Korean capital] than Winnipeg."

Snyder is a University of Michigan Ann Arbor college graduate who quit his job with "a goal of traveling to every country in the world" by the age of 35.

He has been sharing his travel adventures on his social media accounts (@snydtheexplorer on TikTok , Instagram and YouTube) and recently shared snapshots from his trip to Afghanistan in a viral TikTok video posted on May 15 , which has garnered 1.8 million views.

"This is what it's like to backpack in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as an American," he says in the video, which shows footage of him walking along the streets of the country, visiting a bird market, drinking tea with locals and trying different foods.

His latest viral post comes as travel is set to reach "record highs" in 2024, with global tourism spending expected to reach $2 trillion, according to a December 2023 survey by market research firm Euromonitor International.

Jet-setters say they'll cut down on other areas of personal spending to prioritize leisure travel this year, according to a global survey of over 10,000 travelers across nine countries, conducted by Ipsos and the Hilton hotel group.

'Absolutely Out of Body Experience'

Snyder, who is currently spending a month in Buenos Aires, was inspired to visit Afghanistan after seeing the country named among the favorite places of travelers who have visited every country and hearing "the best things about the hospitality, nature and food."

He spent 10 days in Afghanistan, visiting Kabul, Bamiyan and the Band-e-Amir national park in the Bamiyan province in central Afghanistan, as well as the city of Mazar-e-Sharif and the town of Balkh in the Balkh province in northern Afghanistan.

Snyder was accompanied by Valentin Oeckl, a 22-year-old who's traveling from Germany to Australia without flying. The pair met in Islamabad, Pakistan where Oeckl was staying in order to get a visa for entry into Afghanistan.

Snyder warned: "Only the most experienced traveler should consider traveling to Afghanistan without a guide, and even then, it will be a daunting experience."

However, he and Oeckl could not afford to pay for a guide, so they navigated the country without one, which was "the most challenging thing."

Snyder's favorite place for nature in Afghanistan was Bamiyan, which he enjoyed for its "snow-capped mountains, crystal clear rivers and stunning blue lakes," while his favorite city was Mazar-e-Sharif.

He noted: "Afghanistan isn't a country you visit for tourist attractions per se, but a country where you can walk out of your doorstep and be immediately stimulated by the ongoing ebb and flow of daily life."

There are too many memorable moments from the trip to recount, Snyder said, but the most poignant one was when he crossed the border into Afghanistan from the town of Torkham in Pakistan.

Snyder recalled: "We had walked through the long corridor of barbed wire fences, and found ourselves alone in the Afghanistan immigration office. We handed over our passports to the Taliban official, who stamped us into the country, looked at us in the eyes and said 'Welcome to Afghanistan.'

"From then forward, everything was an absolutely out of body experience. But perhaps the craziest part was the end of the trip, when we would wake up and go walk around the markets, chatting with locals and the Taliban as if it were just another day," he added.

The "only hairy moment" during his trip was on the morning of his first day in Kabul. He and Oeckl didn't have their permits yet and were walking to the office of the country's Ministry of Information and Culture.

"We were apprehended and they were stern with us for not having our permits, but mostly they were just curious to see two tourists walking around Kabul without a guide," the traveler said.

Staying Safe While Exploring Afghanistan

Snyder's "top tip" for keeping safe on a trip to Afghanistan is to explore the country with a guide. He noted: "Of the micro niche tourist scene that exists for visiting Afghanistan, a gross majority have a private guide to assist with daily activities and Taliban interactions. The issue is that guides cost thousands of dollars due to the demand and the fact that people will pay anything for safety."

Snyder also said he was able to navigate the country without a guide with the help of tips from a blog by Diána (@theglobetrottingdetective on Instagram), a Hungarian solo female traveler who traveled around Afghanistan for four weeks.

"Without her trip reports, I wouldn't have had the confidence, information, resources, contacts etc...to successfully and safely execute my trip," he noted.

Other than following general safety rules as you would in any foreign country, Snyder said one thing that has kept him safe all over the world, from Afghanistan and Iraq to the favelas in Brazil and the ghettos in the U.S. is simple—smile.

"When you smile at someone and look them in the eye, displaying a warm and sincere and non-threatening demeanor, it is the most effective method to diffuse any instigation that I've ever known. Just smile, be kind, and you'll be alright wherever you are," he noted.

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Despite government advice some Australians are holidaying in Afghanistan as the Taliban eye legitimacy

Afghanistan.

In recent times it conjures images of warfare, crippling poverty and horrors perpetrated against women and minorities by a repressive regime.

But in a play for legitimacy in the eyes of the rest of the world, the Taliban, which returned to power in 2021, is looking to reignite the nation's tourism industry.

The Taliban claims tourist numbers are on the rise, boasting a 120 per cent increase year-on-year to welcome more than 5,000 travellers in 2023.

It's a development watched closely by Southern Cross University academic Mujib Abid, who said tourism was viewed as a pathway to legitimacy and economic self-sufficiency within the "pariah state".

"It has, by the looks of it, invested rather heavily or remarkably, including even opening a tourism and hospitality institute in Kabul and publicly welcoming tourists from far and wide to the country," Dr Abid said.

Despite government advice to the contrary, some Australians are taking up the invitation.

'People happy to see foreigners'

In the past 12 months, Brisbane couple Arran and Imogen have been riding motorbikes through Asia, where they have heard other travellers' positive experiences of visiting Afghanistan.

"Talking to people that have gone, and seeing all of the rich history that the country has, and how it's recovering after the recent wars, it's something that we thought we really wanted to do while we had the opportunity," Imogen told 7.30.

After some early nerves — Australia does not have diplomatic representation in Kabul, a reality that left the couple feeling initially "isolated" — their 10-day journey across Afghanistan went off without a hitch, taking in stunning landscapes and enjoying local hospitality as they rode their way through to Europe.

"It's really, really eye-opening to drive through these areas and see people living in the remnants of war, but just inviting us in for tea," Arran said.

"Whoever is in control of Afghanistan, that doesn't encompass the whole population … there's a whole group of people, women and children and fathers, husbands that just want to be Afghan and just want to show that their culture is one of the best in the world."

Imogen said she was generally met with curiosity as a woman on a motorbike.

"I had poor experiences in other countries where I felt a lot more unsafe than I did in Afghanistan," she said.

"People are really happy to see foreigners around, they're really happy to see new people around, and generally, they were really kind to us."

Lure of social media

James Willcox has been running tours in Afghanistan with his UK-based company Untamed Borders since 2008. He said while it was difficult to compare bookings from recent years, given the regime change and COVID, 2023 was one of his company's busiest yet.

He said their customers were diverse but were usually English-speaking and well-travelled. He attributed part of the recent rise in interest to travel bloggers on social media showing a different perspective on the country.

"[Twenty years ago] if there wasn't a Lonely Planet, or a Rough Guide, then certain parts of the world were seen only where journalists and documentary makers and professional people went, and I think that's changed," Mr Willcox said.

Fatima Haidari was a tour guide with Untamed Borders until the Taliban took Kabul in 2021.

She's believed to have been the only woman who was guiding at that time.

"There were days I was afraid, I was scared, but I think nothing could have stopped me because one part of the job I was doing was so good and joyful," she said.

As a high-profile woman, having appeared in international media, the now-25-year-old felt she had to leave Afghanistan for her safety once the Taliban returned to control.

She now offers virtual tours from her new home in Italy, with part of the proceeds supporting girls' education in her home country, and has mixed feelings about tourists visiting her homeland.

She said she did not want Afghanistan and its people to be isolated from the rest of the world, but did not support tourists posing for photos with Taliban or otherwise softening the image of the regime by claiming they have made the country safer.

"I have friends who have been [in Taliban prisons] but once they're released they're not OK, and I know, for example, women who have been even killed there," she said.

"Tourists who go there … I think it's good, but trying to normalise Taliban is somehow betraying all the people out there in Afghanistan who suffer from [the] presence of Taliban."

Dr Abid, an Afghan-Australian, said the issue was complex.

"From the perspective of Afghans, you can see why there is immense value in [tourists visiting Afghanistan]," he said.

"There is a need for them to see another side of the world outside Afghanistan, one that is a foreign face that is not holding an M16 and running around in an armoured vehicle."

But he added tourists enjoyed freedoms not given to all local people.

"The Taliban have passed edicts that bar women from entering parks and picnic areas, including the Band-e Amir National Park, and there's something quite violent and contradictory in there about what our visit could potentially mean for the status, for the wellbeing and for the prospects for liberation of Afghan women," Dr Abid said.

Australian tourist shot

The Department of Foreign Affairs' Smart Traveller website is clear: the Australian government warns against travel to Afghanistan, and with no Australian officials in the country, its ability to provide assistance is "severely limited".

The warning gave West Australian Joe McDowell pause for thought after booking a tour to the country — but, he reasoned, it also urged caution when travelling to places like Dubai and the UK, which he considered relatively safe.

His friends weren't so sure.

"The unanimous response to the comment, 'I'm going to Afghanistan,' was pretty much, 'Why are you going?' and 'Are you crazy?'" Mr McDowell said.

"I know that it's just come out of war only three years ago … a lot of people would think that that's strange, but that's also part of the reason I wanted to go: because it's a strange place, it's different."

His 10-day tour started last month in the capital, Kabul, where his 17-person group toured mosques and markets. On day two, they wound their way to the city of Bamiyan, which was home to historic statues of Buddha before they were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.

The group was at a market having photos taken for national parks passes when a gunman opened fire on them.

Mr McDowell said it took time for his brain to catch up to what was happening, initially processing the gunshots as firecrackers or something solid falling on the market floor.

"I just ran away, and as I was running away I felt something slap my ass, and then I looked around to see he was still standing about three or four metres away from our car where he was shooting it," Mr McDowell said.

Bleeding, he took cover beneath the car, the gunman's feet next to his face.

"It was at that point that I'd had a few seconds for the brain to catch up, but I sort of felt like this is it, I've got no more moves here," Mr McDowell said.

"I'm trapped. I'm stuck. And if he bends down and shoots under the car, I can't run, I can't move.

"Fortunately, for whatever reason, he didn't squat down."

Six people were killed and at least five others injured in the attack, which was later claimed by Islamic State. After a stay in a Kabul hospital, Mr McDowell returned home to Perth, where he is recovering well .

He did not rule out a return to Afghanistan in the future but said the "weird weekends" were on the backburner until the pain subsided.

"I don't know if it changes my perception of Afghanistan," Mr McDowell said.

"I was hoping to go there to get a bit of a better feel for Afghanistan, a feel for the Taliban, a feel for the local people."

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British tourist ‘in coma’ after being kicked in the head by Thai bar bouncer

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A British tourist is said to be in a coma fighting for his life after a security guard at a bar in Thailand kicked him in the head.

Video shared online shows the brutal attack, which happened on Friday evening at Helicopters Bar in the red light district of Pattaya following a dispute over a drinks bill.

The bouncer, who has apologised for his actions, was working alongside two others when an argument broke out between the bar’s hostess and three British men.

The hostess said the men insulted her when she told them some of their bill hadn’t been paid and refused to hand over any money, saying they were being scammed.

She called security and CCTV shows the tourists settled their bill, but one of them then pushed one of the bouncers, causing a brawl to break out in the street.

Footage shows three bouncers knocking two of the British men to the ground.

One of the tourists is seen lying on the ground while raising his hands pleading for them to stop.

A guard then takes a run-up and kicks the man in the head at full force. The Metro has decided not to show the part where he makes impact.

The victim is seen lifeless on the ground for several minutes and witnesses claimed he was now in a coma in intensive care.

Police said the guards had been warned about their conduct but not arrested as no one had filed a complaint.

Sergeant Major Arthon from the Pattaya City police station said: ‘There’s no case open until they complain. We’ve had a look around but can’t find them.

‘Yes, we’re still checking CCTV to see what happened to them. There are rumours that he is in intensive care but we haven’t heard anything from hospitals.’

The bouncer who kicked the man in the head spoke on video saying: ‘We did not know the amount of the bill that the tourists did not pay. We arrived after being called by a cashier to protect her because she was afraid.

‘I want to apologise to society and Pattaya authorities for overdoing it by continuing to attack the tourists when they were down. I acted out of temper after being attacked first.

‘We work as part of a group of security guards. There are five of us and we are hired by 28 bars on the road.’

Bar hostess Samorn said that the three men had paid two sex workers to drink with them.

She added: ‘Two of the tourists had paid their bills, but another had not and changed his seat several times.

‘I asked them to pay the bill, but the tourist in the white shirt argued that he had already paid. I explained that the money was the payment of someone who had not paid and not his own bill.

‘They insulted me and said the bar was trying to scam them, so I called the security over and told them the tourist would not pay his bill.’

Police Colonel Nawin Thirawit, superintendent of Pattaya Police Station, said that the bouncers’ actions had tarnished the image of Pattaya.

They were invited to the police station and apologised for ‘damaging the image of the country’.

The policeman said: ‘The security guards should have prevented the incident and reported it to the police.

‘Anyone who works in this industry must keep their emotions in check and focus on preventing incidents rather than attacking people.

‘Cases like this can damage the reputation of the city and deter tourists from visiting.’

Helicopter Bar, which is understood to have British owners, did not respond to requests for comment.

Pattaya – once a quiet fishing village – is now known for its resorts, 24-hour clubs and red-light district.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

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Emirati leader meets with Taliban official facing $10 million US bounty over attacks

In this photograph released by the state-run WAM news agency, Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, left, shakes hands with Taliban official Sirajuddin Haqqani at Qasr Al Shati palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. The leader of the United Arab Emirates met Tuesday with an official in the Taliban government still wanted by the U.S. on an up-to $10 million bounty over his involvement in an attack that killed an American citizen and other assaults. (WAM via AP)

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The leader of the United Arab Emirates met with an official in the Taliban government still wanted by the United States on an up-to $10 million bounty over his involvement in an attack that killed an American citizen and other assaults.

The meeting Tuesday highlights the growing divide internationally on how to deal with the Taliban, who seized control of Afghanistan in 2021 and since have barred girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade and otherwise restricted women’s roles in public life. While the West still doesn’t recognize the Taliban as Kabul’s government, nations in the Mideast and elsewhere have reached out to them.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, met Sirajuddin Haqqani at the Qasr Al Shati palace in the Emirati capital, the state-run WAM news agency reported. It published an image of Sheikh Mohammed shaking hands with Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister who also heads the Haqqani network, a powerful network within the group blamed for some of the bloodiest attacks against Afghanistan’s former Western-backed government.

“The two sides discussed strengthening the bonds of cooperation between the two countries and ways to enhance ties to serve mutual interests and contribute to regional stability,” WAM said. “The discussions focused on economic and development fields, as well as support for reconstruction and development in Afghanistan.”

For their part, the Taliban described the two men as discussing “mutual interests,” without elaborating. It added that the Taliban’s spy chief, Abdul Haq Wasiq, also took part in the meeting. Wasiq had been held for years at the U.S. military’s prison at Guantanamo Bay and released in 2014 in a swap that saw the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl , who had been captured after leaving his post in 2009.

Haqqani, believed to be in his 50s, has continued to be on the U.S. radar even after the Taliban takeover. In 2022, a U.S. drone strike in Kabul killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri , who had called for striking the United States for years after taking over from Osama bin Laden. The house in which al-Zawahri was killed was a home for Haqqani, according to U.S. officials.

While the Taliban argued the strike violated the terms of the 2020 Doha Agreement that put in motion the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the accord also included a promise by the Taliban not harbor al-Qaida members or others seeking to attack America.

The Haqqani network grew into one of the deadliest arms of the Taliban after the U.S.-led 2001 invasion of Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 attacks. The group employed roadside bombs, suicide bombings and other attacks, including on the Indian and U.S. embassies, the Afghan presidency and other major targets. They also have been linked to extortion, kidnapping and other criminal activity.

Haqqani himself specifically acknowledged planning a January 2008 attack against the Serena Hotel in Kabul, which killed six people, including U.S. citizen Thor David Hesla.

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller declined to discuss the specifics of the visit, other than to say that United Nations members must seek permission to allow sanctioned individuals to travel to their countries.

A later State Department response to questions from The Associated Press added that the UAE “is an important partner in support of the Afghan people, including for the rights of Afghan women and girls, and for Afghans who fled their country seeking resettlement.”

“We understand the complex relationship countries have with the Taliban, particularly those in the region,” the statement said. “We remain in active communication with all of our partners on how to constructively engage the Taliban.”

The U.S. long has been a security guarantor for the UAE , a federation of seven hereditarily ruled sheikhdoms also home to Dubai, and has thousands of troops working out Al Dhafra Air Base and other locations in the country.

Since the Taliban takeover, China is the most prominent country to accept a diplomat from the group . Other countries have accepted de facto Taliban representatives, like Qatar, which has been a key mediator between the U.S. and the group. American envoys have met multiple times with the Taliban as well.

The UAE, which hosted a Taliban diplomatic mission during the Taliban’s first rule in Afghanistan, has been trying to solidify ties to the group even as it sent troops to back the Western coalition that fought for decades in the country. The low-cost UAE-based carriers Air Arabia and FlyDubai have begun flying into Kabul International Airport again , while an Emirati company won a security contract for airfields in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the international community led by the United Nations has tried to provide aid to Afghanistan, as millions struggle to have enough to eat, natural disasters kill those in rural areas and the country’s economy has drastically contracted.

Concerns about human rights under the Taliban’s rule persist as well.

U.N. human rights spokesman Jeremy Laurence on Wednesday criticized a reported mass flogging of 63 men and women at a sporting facility in the city of Sar-e-pul over alleged offenses including “running away from home” and “moral crimes.” Afghan media quoted a local government official and witnesses confirming the floggings took place Tuesday.

“The punishment was reportedly carried out in front of members of the de facto authorities and hundreds of local residents,” Laurence said. “We again urge the de facto authorities to immediately cease all forms of corporal punishment.”