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Afghan FM Rejects Visa Extension for Western Diplomats
ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Afghan Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Mutawakel on Saturday ruled out extending visas for Western diplomats waiting in Kabul to see eight foreign aid workers facing trial for trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, news agencies reported.
"There is no need to extend visas for diplomats who have arrived from Islamabad," Mutawakel told the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) from the ruling Taliban's southern Kandahar headquarters.
"We have already told them they will not be allowed to meet the detainees as an investigation is underway. We fail to understand why they continue to insist on a meeting," Mutawakel added.
Australian, German and U.S. diplomats who arrived in the Afghan capital, Kabul, Tuesday, have visas that are valid until August 21.
However, attempts to get the visas extended in order to get access to eight of their citizens, who are being held along with 16 local staff of the Shelter Now International organization (SN), failed.
The diplomats told reporters in Kabul the Taliban had advised them to leave the country, and appeared to be in no mood to allow them to visit the two Americans, two Australians and four Germans until police investigations are over.
The eight aid workers and 16 Afghan colleagues are being kept under guard in two detention centers in Kabul.
"The diplomats should exercise patience and let us complete the investigations," Mutawakel said.
He said proselytizing was a serious matter and the SN workers had hurt the sentiments of millions of Afghans. "We regret the Western propaganda aimed at misrepresenting the event," he said.
Mutawakel added that what the SN workers had done also injured the feelings of the faithful throughout the Islamic world. "Their conduct amounts to a cruel injustice against humanity."
The Taliban seized preaching materials from the foreigners, which included translations of the Bible in Dari and Pushto languages, and videotapes.
The Taliban's Daily Shariat paper earlier said the eight foreigners would be punished under Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar's decree 14, which allows a few days in prison and expulsion within 48 hours of release, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
But, the paper said Shari'ah (Islamic law) would apply to the 16 Afghan aid workers arrested with the foreigners last week, meaning they could still be facing death.
The foreign aid workers - two Americans, two Australians and four Germans - have not been seen since their arrest between August 3rd and 5th.
According to BBC's online service, the Taliban have allowed the diplomats to hand over letters, personal items and food for the detainees.
They have not allowed the detainees to write letters home.
The diplomats held their first meeting with Taliban officials on Wednesday and were told that their nationals were well, BBC added.
The United States has said Islamabad consul-general David Donahue would stay in Kabul until the standoff was resolved.
"Mr. Donahue is staying in Kabul and will continue to press for access to the detainees," State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said Thursday.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has also joined the chorus of appeals to the Taliban to allow diplomats consular access.
Annan appealed Friday to the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan to allow diplomats consular access to the eight foreign aid workers.
In a statement through his spokesman, Annan said he "regrets that, contrary to customary international law, consular access and legal representation for the detainees have been denied."
The U.N. has imposed tough sanctions on the Taliban for the militia's alleged support of "terrorism" and its refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden, who is wanted in Washington for allegedly masterminding the bombings of two American embassies in 1998.
The Taliban seized Kabul in 1996, and currently control about 95% of the country.
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