British eccentric traveller ‘Lord’ Miles Routledge is alive and well in Taliban custody, according to a series of tweets from his account.
Miles Routledge, a 23-year-old Brit who travelled to various danger places around the world “for fun,” was arrested in March this year in Afghanistan by Taliban fighters, along with two Polish nationals.
According to a message posted to his Patreon account at the time, Routledge had been arrested for “taking like $1000 out of Western Union (sus amount),” apologising to his subscribers from the “lack of communication,” but insisting everything was “good.”
Since then, there had been no further updates on Routledge’s safety, until a series of tweets from his account were posted on Monday. Allegedly written by a “friend,” the tweets said that Routledge was alive and being treated “very well, has several servants, loads of movies on his laptop,” adding that he regularly goes for picnics “and has tea with the Taliban cabinet” government.
🧵 This is a friend of Lord Miles to give an update.
4 months in Taliban custody.
He's treated very well, has several servants, loads of movies on his laptop, goes on picnics and has tea with the Taliban cabinet gov.
He still loves Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/feNkoaVUuo
— Lord Miles (@real_lord_miles) July 17, 2023
The “friend,” who remained anonymous, insisted that Routledge “speaks like he’s on holiday” in communicating with his friends, and that he is playing video games and sunbathing, along with attending some Afghan weddings. “I haven’t been this relaxed in years, lovely to get away from it all,” Routledge allegedly said.
The thread also confirmed the reason for his most recent visit to the country, which was apparently to “open a gold mine” in the previously embattled nation, with the anonymous friend adding that they “reckon he’ll succeed” in his endeavour.
According to the posts, Routledge is allegedly continuing to plan trips across the world, including an attempt to hike the length of the Afghan Wakhan to the Chinese border, “which nobody has done since 1947.”
He also expressed his intent to hike the length of the Afghan Wakhan to the Chinese border on his next trip to Afghanistan which nobody has done since 1947. pic.twitter.com/fri1frke1P
— Lord Miles (@real_lord_miles) July 17, 2023
The thread concluded by claiming that Routledge was unaware of the tweets being posted on his account, with the author claiming that they felt “responsible to tell the world he’s alright and carrying on the British adventurer spirit.”
Some in the comments of the thread expressed doubt regarding Routledge’s safety, noting that the image including in the first tweet was one of the last ones he had posted before going offline for months. However, sources close to Routledge have confirmed to Valiant News that he is indeed alive and well.
A true proof of life would contain something indicating today's date or at least a date in the recent past. Please provide something of this type if possible.
— Lysander Boomer (@LysanderBoomer) July 17, 2023
Routledge gained international acclaim after he became stranded in Afghanistan while the United States and its allies hurriedly withdrew from the country. Concerned for his safety but caught in midst of history unfolding, originally told his story to 4chan users, where the situation was then unexpectedly picked up by mainstream outlets.
He successfully escaped the country on a flight for expats, and since then has been adventuring across the globe, including his current trip to Ukraine, where the conflict with Russia is ongoing. Recently, Routledge described the situation on the ground during the 2022 Invasion of Ukraine as “safer than London or Birmingham.”
Before leaving for Ukraine, Routledge sat down with Valiant News’s Jack Hadfield, where he revisited the trip to Kabul during its fall that made him famous, along with giving a before-untold insight into his past, and how he came to have this quintessentially English spirit of adventure.
