Senior US, Australian and German diplomats on Friday presented a united front to Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia to demand access to eight aid workers detained in Kabul, sources said.
Embassy sources in Pakistan said acting US Ambassador Michele Sison, Australian High Commissioner Howard Brown and German charge d'affaires Overfeld Gunter were expected to meet the Taliban ambassador Friday to plea for consular access to the prisoners. Diplomatic cars from the three embassies were seen pulling into the Taliban compound here but it was impossible to confirm who was taking part in the meeting.
The envoys would demand consular access to the two Americans, two Australians and four Germans detained in Kabul since the weekend under harsh Islamic laws against preaching Christianity, diplomats said.
We remain concerned about the welfare of the two Americans who are reported to have been arrested," a US embassy spokesman told media persons, adding the Taliban had not even confirmed that the Americans were being held.
"We're trying to get to Kabul as quickly as possible."
Bureau Report