Miles Routledge, a 23-year-old YouTuber with a following of over 60,000 subscribers, has found himself in a precarious situation. Known for his daring expeditions to the most perilous locations around the world, Miles, along with two other British nationals, is presently being held by the Taliban.
In 2021, he became famous as a “war tourist” after narrowly escaping Afghanistan during the fall of Kabul. He has continued to push the limits, even posting a video titled “I Went Shooting with the Taliban” in August 2022, which has now received over 1.1 million views.
Why is Miles Routledge captured by Taliban?
In January 2023, Miles Routledge, along with volunteer medic Kevin Cornwell and an anonymous hotel manager from Kabul, were taken into custody by the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) of the Taliban.
Although the exact cause of their arrest remains unclear, Miles Routledge’s decision to revisit Afghanistan after being rescued by the British Air Force may have raised alarm bells.
It is plausible that his return to the country may have alerted the Taliban, resulting in their subsequent apprehension by the GDI.
Miles Routledge, who had been in custody since January, was detained on March 2, along with two Polish nationals – Adrian Wojcik, 22, and Roman Bilski, 24.
According to a senior European diplomatic source, they are being detained for further questioning by the Taliban.
Is there any information on his arrest from officials?
Scott Richards, a negotiator representing the British humanitarian NGO Presidium Network, reported that there has been little contact with the detainees. Despite this, Richards believes that the men are being treated well and are in good health.
He stated in a transcript obtained from Sky News, “We have no reason to believe they’ve been subject to sort of any negative treatment, such as torture. And we’re told that they are as good as can be expected in such circumstances.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office for Britain also stated in a transcript obtained from Reuters that they are “working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families.”
Lord Miles, the YouTuber, has authored a book titled “Lord Miles in Afghanistan” published by Antelope Hill Publishing, which has been under investigation due to its alleged links to neo-fascist and white nationalist movements.
In addition to his visit to Afghanistan, the YouTuber has gained notoriety for documenting his visits to other unusual locations, including Snake Island off the coast of Brazil (which is prohibited), and attempting to enter the United States from Mexico and living as a homeless person in New York.
