I’m sure they were just sightseeing.

(Telegraph) — Two Britons have been arrested in Afghanistan during an anti-terrorism operation to prevent an attack on British interests according to reports.

The two were seized in a British-led raid and are now being held in Helmand Province where Britain has 9,500 troops.

Conflicting reports said the men had been seized either in a “combat area” in Helmand or during a covert operation at a hotel close to the Iranian border in the city of Herat.

An Afghan official told one newspaper the two were dual nationals and were not Afghan citizens.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office in London declined to give details of the operation, or comment on where or when the men were taken.

He said: “We can confirm that two British nationals have been detained in Afghanistan and that embassy staff are providing assistance.” An Afghan official told the Times newspaper the men were taken from the International Trade Centre Hotel in the city of Herat. He said: “The British asked for our help to arrest these two individuals.

However another source told the Sun newspaper the two men were found in Afghan dress in Helmand province and were suspected of planning to target British troops.

The source said: “Helmand is not a holiday destination. The authorities will be very concerned they were wandering about.

“The first thing they will want to know is what they were doing here.”