Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia reiterated Sunday that the visas of three Western diplomats waiting in Kabul to see eight detained aid workers would not be extended.
"There is no change in our policy," a foreign ministry official said.
"There is no need for visa extensions and we have not taken any new decision," the unnamed official here was quoted as telling the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) news agency.
The Pakistan-based US, Australian and German diplomats have sent their passports to the foreign ministry here with a formal request for extensions. Their visas are due to expire on Tuesday.
But a foreign ministry spokesman said the Taliban had "not changed their stand" on extending the visas. "We hope the diplomats will abide by Afghan government rules" after the expiry of their visas, he added.
The foreign ministry here was closed on Sunday as the country observed independence day with a parade by Taliban troops and a display of military hardware.
The diplomats arrived in Kabul last week to seek the release of two American, two Australian and four German members of German-based group Shelter Now, arrested for allegedly trying to convert Afghan Muslims to Christianity.
Taliban officials have denied their repeated requests to have access to the detainees and advised the diplomats to leave the country.
The eight foreign aid workers, and 16 Afghan colleagues are being kept under guard in two detention centres in Kabul. They have not been seen since their arrest between August 3 and 5.
Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Mutawakel has already ruled out the possibility of extending the visas granted to the diplomats.
"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 said Saturday.
He said proselytizing was a serious matter and the aid workers had hurt the sentiments of millions of Afghans.
The Taliban claim they seized materials from the foreigners which included translations of the Bible into Dari and Pushto languages.
Taliban officials have not explained the charges or what punishment they might face, but have refused to rule out the death penalty.
Meanwhile, a barrage of rockets slammed into the Afghan capital on Sunday as the Taliban held a military parade to mark the 82nd anniversary of Afghanistan's independence from Britain, AIP reported.
The Pakistan-based news agency said at least seven rockets slammed into an area north of Kabul airport. No casualties were reported.
AIP claimed the rockets were fired by opposition forces in an effort to disrupt the celebrations.
But Taliban sources and residents near the airport denied the attack, calling it "firing in jubilation."
Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar marked independence day with an appeal to the Muslim world to support his Islamic government.
"The Islamic Emirate (Taliban regime) is defending Islamic values and the national sovereignty of Afghanistan," Mullah Omar said in a message read out by a senior Taliban official.
Omar said the Muslim world should "consider the existing realities in Afghanistan and should establish relations with the Islamic Emirate, which wants to have bilateral relations with all countries."
Wearing fresh, clean uniforms, Taliban soldiers paraded in front of a mosque where former Afghan king Amanullah declared independence from Britain in 1919.
Thousands of people turned out to watch columns of artillery, tanks, surface-to-surface and ground-to-air missiles mounted on trucks parade through the capital.
Taliban jets also whizzed overhead in an air show, witnesses said.
The UN has imposed tough sanctions against the Taliban for alleged support of extremist militants and its refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden, who is wanted in Washington for allegedly masterminding bomb attacks -- KABUL (AFP)
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