Three British nationals are being held by the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, according to a UK-based charity.

The Presidium Network, which helps people caught up in humanitarian crises, said it was supporting two of the men and their families.

A spokesperson told Sky News that the charity discovered the British nationals were being held when it investigated the position of detainees in Afghanistan.

Scott Richards, a spokesperson for the charity, said there had been "no meaningful contact" with the men, but added they were believed to be "in good health and being well treated.'

He added that further investigation by the charity suggested the men had been detained as the result of a "misunderstanding."

"We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan and we are supporting families," a spokesperson for Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told Reuters in a statement but did not confirm the details of the British nationals.

Meanwhile, analysts give various opinions on the matter

“If the foreign nationals are being monitoring it is because of the laws of the current government; because each country imposes laws based on its own interest. And if the foreigners are in detention, they will have made a problem,” said Mohammad Zalmai Afghanyar, a military veteran.

“It is possible that some of the people at foreign embassies work for intelligence,” said Wali Frozan, a political analyst.

The Islamic Emirate has not offered a comment on the detention of the three British nationals.