- PESHAWAR: Authorities in Pakistan's tribal regions say they have arrested a 70-year-old British man.
- They say the man told officials he was writing a book and was trying to cross into Afghanistan when he was picked up last week in the Khyber region.
A British High Commission spokesman said: "I can confirm the arrest of a British national, Nicholas Bain, in Pakistan, on Aug. 28." "We're currently providing consular assistance."
Khyber administrator Arshad Khan said Bain was being held in the city of Peshawar.
Foreigners need special permission to enter Khyber and other tribal regions, home to Taleban and Al-Qaida militants.
A Pakistani official said Bain was "suspected of being a British intelligence agent" and had been traveling without the permission compulsory to all foreigners in the tribal areas.
Khan said Bain would likely be charged with entering the region without permission.
Such offenses are normally punishable by a fine or very short prison terms.
