Afghanistan's Taleban rulers say a French journalist and a Japanese man are being held in the southern city of Jalalabad on charges of illegally entering the country.
They told western media Thursday that the two are in good condition and have been questioned by Taleban intelligence officials.
The French journalist is Michel Peyrard, a reporter for the French Weekly Paris Match. He was arrested on October ninth.
The Kyodo news agency has identified the Japanese man as Daigen Yanagida who was arrested on Monday, about 15 kilometers from Pakistan's border.
Another Japanese, Isamu Iida, was previously reported in custody in Afghanistan. However, the report turned out to be false. Mr. Iida told a Japanese television station that he is safe in Pakistan.