Diplomats of the German, Australian and US embassies in Islamabad agreed Tuesday on how to proceed in efforts to secure the release of the eight nationals of their countries arrested in Afghanistan for preaching Christianity, the German foreign ministry said.
In addition to seeking access to them through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the diplomats were trying to help them through the United Nations mission in Afghanistan, the ministry said in a communiqué.
Embassy representatives will also travel from Islamabad to Kabul, it said.
The German charge d'affaires in Pakistan had on Monday, as soon the arrests became known, interceded with the legation of the Taliban regime in Islamabad for the rapid release of the prisoners and had demanded they be well-treated, the ministry statement said.
Four of the eight prisoners are Germans. They include the leader of the Shelter Now mission, a man originally from Bavaria who has long lived in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and three women from Lower Saxony.
The German embassy in Kabul has been closed since 1989 but the German embassy in Islamabad maintains close working contacts with the Taliban in the field of humanitarian aid, the statement added -- BERLIN (AFP)
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