An aid worker who was shot dead by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan on Monday had dual citizenship, the South African foreign affairs department said.

"She was regarded as a citizen of both countries, South Africa and Britain. The British would automatically claim her as one of their own because she used her British passport when she travelled to Afghanistan," said spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota.

Earlier, reports indicated that the woman was South African but later it was reported she was British.

"South Africa has no presence in Afghanistan and therefore we are in liaison with our Mission in Islamabad for assistance," said Kota.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Zemarai Bashary said the woman was going to her office in the western part of Kabul when she was shot by attackers who were riding on motorbikes.

The woman, who had apparently lived in South Africa for some time, worked for Serving Emergency Relief and Vocational Enterprises, an organisation helping disabled people in Afghanistan, said Bashary.

The Taliban reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack through its spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid, who said the fundamentalist former rulers of Afghanistan had killed the woman because she was preaching Christianity.

Sapa