Western diplomats today made a final attempt to gain Taliban approval to stay in Afghanistan in the hope of seeing their eight citizens detained on charges of promoting Christianity.
But Taliban officials made clear they planned to reject the request and expected the diplomats from the United States, Germany and Australia to return to neighbouring Pakistan tomorrow.
"Now there is no possibility of extending their visas and we will return the passports of the three today," a Taliban foreign ministry spokesman said. The spokesman expressed the expectation that the three diplomats would return to the Pakistani capital Islamabad on tomorrow when their current visas expire.
The diplomats from Australia, Germany and the United States have spent a frustrating week in Kabul trying to see the eight foreign aid workers who have been held without access to their government representatives or lawyers as the Taliban investigate charges that they were promoting Christianity.
The four Germans, two Australians and two Americans were arrested along with 16 Afghan colleagues - all from the German-based Christian relief agency Shelter Now International (SNI) - more than two weeks ago. The Taliban say none of the Afghans has admitted converting to Christianity.