(Press Association) -- A British serviceman has gone missing in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
He was reported missing from his base in central Helmand in the early hours of Monday morning.
A massive search is under way to find him and his family have been informed, said the MoD.
The MoD said in a statement: "A British serviceman is missing in Afghanistan. An extensive operation to locate him is under way. The individual was based in Central Helmand and was reported missing in the early hours of this morning. His next of kin have been informed and they will be updated as the operation continues."
The Nato command in Afghanistan said the soldier has been listed as "duty status whereabouts unknown" and a search is under way.
An American soldier serving in Afghanistan is believed to be in Taliban captivity.
Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, 25, from Hailey, Idaho, was taken prisoner in June 2009 in Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan and is thought to be in Pakistan.
It is understood that the search for the missing serviceman is being carried out both on the ground and from the air.
The Taliban claimed to the BBC that they captured and killed a foreign soldier in the area after a firefight.
This could not be verified, and the Taliban often make exaggerated claims for propaganda purposes.