The Sunday Mercury journalist being held by the authorities in a jail in Pakistan has managed to send two messages to his editor.

The notes, sent by email by a friend outside the prison, represent the first direct contact since 29-year-old Amardeep Bassey (left) was arrested on Friday.

The paper's investigations editor was detained in the border town of Torkham when he tried to return to Pakistan from Afghanistan and authorities examined his passport and found he did not have the required exit stamp on his visa.

Amardeep had been reporting on the upheavals in the war-torn nation from the capital Kabul, and there have been unconfirmed reports that is under suspicion of spying.

Sunday Mercury editor David Brookes said: "I'm appalled and shocked that Amardeep has been detained due to what appear to be minor passport discrepancies.

"He is a professional journalist doing a job of work, and the accusations against him are quite simply ludicrous."

In the first note Amardeep said:

As you are probably aware I am in Landikotal jail. I am fine and being treated well.
Do not worry I am fine and sorry for this inconvenience.
AMARDEEP from Landikotal Pakistan.

The second read:

Conditions are bearable because the people here in jail are good and looking after me. I am in good health.
Sorry about all this you must be getting sick of me (joking). I just dread being the centre of attention when I return. You know how I hate the press!
Amardeep

Amardeep's elder sister, Rawinder Sekhon, has also spoken of her family's concern, saying "we just want him home".

She added: "When we first heard what had happened we couldn't quite believe it and, to be honest, didn't realise the seriousness of the matter.

"But gradually, as more news came in, we started to realise that he may be in serious trouble.

"...he knows what he is doing and is very capable of looking after himself. He is a very highly regarded journalist."