London, Oct 10 (AP) The Taliban released four Britons who were detained in Afghanistan on allegations that they broke the laws of the country, the UK government said Tuesday.

The Foreign Office said in a brief statement that it welcomed the release of the four Britons, and expressed apologies on behalf of their families “to the current administration of Afghanistan for any violations of the laws of the country.”

Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: PM Narendra Modi Expresses Deep Condolences Over People Killed in Israel During Telephonic Conversation With Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

“The UK government regrets this episode,” it added.

The Foreign Office didn't provide details on who the four were or what laws they allegedly broke.

Also Read | Spain Shocker: Two British Men Allegedly Rape Male Tourist Whom They Met on ‘Gay Dating App’, Accused Arrested.

It wasn't immediately clear if the four were still in Afghanistan or returning to the UK.

Scott Richards, co-founder of the UK-based nonprofit Presidium Network, which was involved in negotiations to help secure the Britons' release, said one of the four was Kevin Cornwell, who had been working with the United Nations in a medical capacity.

Cornwell was detained in January in a Kabul hotel housing nonprofit workers, along with an unidentified hotel manager, after Afghanistan's Directorate of Intelligence searched their rooms and found a pistol in the hotel safe, according to Richards. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)