LIVERPOOL: A 'number' of British nationals are being detained in Afghanistan, the UK government official said, adding that it had raised the issue with the country's Taliban authorities.

The foreign ministry's statement to AFP came a day after the Taliban released two overseas journalists who had been detained, including a former BBC correspondent. 'We are providing support to the families of a number of British men who have been detained in Afghanistan,' the ministry said, without specifying how many British nationals were being held and by whom.