Taliban flouting norms: U.S.

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, AUG. 21. The Bush administration is stepping up the rhetoric against the Taliban in Afghanistan saying that international norms are not being followed on the issue of the detained American citizens and other foreign nationals. And at the United Nations, the Taliban is being accused of the same.

The State Department has called the Taliban a ``strange crowd'' and has said that the fashion in which Kabul is going about the detained foreign nationals is ``insufficient'' and ``unacceptable''. The deputy spokesman, Mr. Philip Reeker, argued that there was a violation of international procedures. ``International norms are that consular officials be granted access to nationals who are detained''.

The Taliban last week arrested eight workers of the Christian aid agency, Shelter Now International, and have charged it with trying to convert Afghans Muslims and propagating Christianity, both very serious charges in Afghanistan. The aid organisation denied the charges. Among the arrested are four Germans, two Americans and two Australians.

The diplomats of the three countries had given the impression originally that they were not going to leave without seeing the detained persons from their countries. But apparently they have been shown the door as their one week visas had expired and are not being extended by the Taliban. What is especially causing concern here is that the arrested foreigners face trial by an Islamic court once after the so-called investigations are completed.

But right now the focus of Washington is on access to the detained persons. ``We have requested continued assurances from the Taliban that the health of the detainees is good, but what we want is access, so that we can make those determinations ourselves, so that we can see our nationals,'' Mr. Reeker said.

At the U.N., a spokesman for the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, said that the goings on in Kabul in the context of denial of access was contrary to customary international law and warned the Taliban of the implications.

``This gives a signal that could have severe consequences on critical humanitarian assistance at a time when Afghans are suffering the combined effects of war, extreme poverty, massive displacement and severe drought,'' he said. It has to be remembered that in spite of the open anti-Taliban policy and in the absence of formal diplomatic relations, the U.S. continues to be the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

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Section  : International
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