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A 70-year-old British writer has been held in Pakistan for nearly a month.

Nicholas Bain was arrested in the country's dangerous tribal regions on 28 August. Authorities said he told officials he was writing a book and was trying to cross into Afghanistan when he was arrested in the Khyber region.

Khyber administrator Arshad Khan said Bain was being held in the north-western city of Peshawar. It is understood he is in a prison and is fit and well.

Foreigners need special permission to enter Khyber and other tribal regions, which are home to Taliban and al-Qaida militants.

Khan said Bain was likely to be charged with entering the region without permission, an offence normally punishable by a fine or very short prison term.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed Bain had been arrested in Pakistan and said consular assistance was being provided to his family.