Former BBC journalist detained in Afghanistan released by Taliban, according to reports

A British journalist who was being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan has been released, it is understood.

Andrew North, an ex-BBC journalist, was working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) when he was detained by the militant group along with several other people.

It is thought Mr North, who was previously the South Asia correspondent for the BBC, was working as a contractor in Kabul.

According to Amrullah Saleh, the acting president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mr North was one of nine westerners who were held by the Taliban.

The UNHCR earlier confirmed "two journalists on assignment with UNHCR and Afghan nationals working with them have been detained in Kabul" and that it was doing its "utmost to resolve the situation".

In an update on Twitter later on Friday, it confirmed it was "relieved" two unnamed journalists had been freed.

Although the UNHCR has not named either of the reporters released, it is understood one of them is Mr North.

A statement on the UN Refugee Agency Twitter page said: “We are relieved to confirm the release in Kabul of the two journalists on assignment with UNHCR, and the Afghan nationals working with them.

“We are grateful to all who expressed concern and offered help. We remain committed to the people of Afghanistan.”

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson earlier said: “We are providing support to the families of a number of British men who have been detained in Afghanistan. UK officials have raised their detention with the Taliban at every opportunity, including when a delegation travelled to Kabul yesterday.”

It is not clear when Mr North was detained. He has not posted on his Twitter feed since February 3.

Articles from Mr North's website show despatches from Afghanistan over the last few months since the Taliban seized control of the country in August, last year.

A recent piece for BBC Radio 4 by Mr North documented farmers returning to Marjah in the Helmand province sowing opium poppy.

Responding to Mr Saleh's statement, the BBC’s executive editor of world news content, Paul Danahar, earlier said: “Andrew North is working for the UN in Kabul. He is a former colleague and a respected journalist. All inquiries about his situation, which his friends and colleagues are obviously concerned about, should be directed to the UN.”

Local news outlet Afghanistan International also reported Mr North had been taken by the Taliban.

A member of a Taliban intelligence unit in Kabul said “several foreign nationals” were arrested in Kabul on charges of working for Western intelligence agencies.

A spokesperson for the UNHCR had earlier said: “Two journalists on assignment with UNHCR and Afghan nationals working with them have been detained in Kabul.

"We are doing our utmost to resolve the situation, in coordination with others. We will make no further comment given the nature of the situation.”