Afghan proselytism allegation denied
BBC News

The United Nations' World Food Programme has issued a strongly-worded statement denying allegations by the Taleban authorities that it could be implicated in propagating Christianity in Afghanistan.

The statement follows the detention by the Taleban authorities of eight westerners belonging to the organisation Shelter Now on charges of trying to convert Afghan Muslims to Christianity.

Shelter Now is one of the dozens of non-governmental aid agencies working with the WFP in Afghanistan.

The WFP statement said neither it nor any of the agencies working with it were involved in such practices.

The organisation called on Taleban officials to help, rather than obstruct, its work in delivering aid to Afghans.

Meanwhile the family of two Americans detained in Kabul are trying to obtain visas in Pakistan to visit their daughters. But they've received no reply so far from the Taleban authorities