(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The MoD reported that the two Britons were arrested in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, but an Afghan source later revealed that they were arrested at a hotel in the western city of Herat in a joint operation by local Afghan forces and UK troops.
An Afghan intelligence official in Herat said the British passport holders were related to terrorists. "Our agents played a key role in the arrests. Both were staying at a local hotel in the city," he stressed.
The Foreign Office admitted that two British nationals with dual citizenship -- who were not Afghans -- were detained and the embassy staff were being asked to provide assistance.
"We can confirm that British forces have detained two individuals in Afghanistan who claim to be British nationals. We are not prepared to comment further at this stage," an MoD spokesperson said.
An MoD spokeswoman also confirmed the news and said, "The UK has a national policy of detaining beyond 96 hours in exceptional circumstances, in particular where it could provide information that could help protect our forces or the local population."
The arrests came only a day after Britain handed the responsibility of Halmand's security to Afghan forces.
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