JOE Biden has ruled out extending the rescue operation in Afghanistan beyond August 31, despite pleas from humanitarian organisations and other world leaders.
The US president was expected to come under pressure at today’s virtual G7 summit to keep troops in Kabul for longer.
But Biden has agreed with a recommendation from the Pentagon to stick with his exit deadline, according to Reuters.
The Taliban, which swept to power last week in the wake of a major withdrawal of troops, has suggested that foreign forces remaining beyond August 31 would cross a "red line" that will "provoke a reaction".
The group warned that evacuations "will not be allowed" after the end of the month. And a spokesman said the Afghans should "return to their homes and resume their calm everyday lives".
During a press conference in Kabul spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said crowding at the airport was dangerous and "people could lose their lives".
And he urged the US not to "encourage" highly skilled people to leave Afghanistan.
Earlier, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said it was not just what the Taliban had said that made him doubt the extension would be granted, but also the attitude in the US.
"I think it is unlikely. Not only because of what the Taliban has said but if you look at the public statements of President Biden I think it is unlikely," he told Sky News.
"It is definitely worth us all trying and we will."
The UK has evacuated 8600 people from Afghanistan in the past 10 days, including more than 2000 in the previous 24 hours, according to the Defence Secretary.
He has insisted it would not be appropriate to try to secure Kabul airport with British troops after the US pulls out.
"It's not about effectively whether I could fly in thousands of troops and secure the airport," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
READ MORE: Michael Russell: The lesson from Afghanistan for an independent Scotland
"Yes I could do that, I could probably secure the airport for a few months, or maybe a year or two.
"But for what purpose? For them to be shot at, attacked, people not to get to the airport and to trigger just a permanent fight? I don't think that is a solution."
Wallace envisaged the "consequences" threatened by the Taliban of missing the deadline to leave could range from preventing people going to Kabul airport to "military activity that could potentially close the airport".
Johnson spoke to Biden on Monday evening ahead of the G7 leaders' call, which will also include the general secretaries of Nato and the United Nations.
"The Taliban will be judged by their deeds and not their words," the Prime Minister added.
UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet warned she had already received credible reports of "summary executions" and restrictions being imposed on women on Taliban-controlled areas.
Johnson has promised "to use every humanitarian and diplomatic lever" to protect human rights in Afghanistan.
Leaders of the G7, which also includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, are further expected to discuss aid and the burgeoning refugee and humanitarian crises.
Ahead of the summit, six chairs of foreign affairs committees in G7 parliaments issued a joint statement urging against "arbitrary dates" for ending military support for the evacuation.
Signed by Bob Menendez, a US senator in Biden's Democratic Party, and the senior Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, they also urged against "artificial caps on the number of evacuees".
Sir Mark Lyall Grant, a former national security adviser, said it was "totally unrealistic" to think there could be an extension to the deadline without the Taliban's consent.
"The Taliban could stop this evacuation process in one hour's time if they started firing missiles at departing planes, if they lobbed a mortar into the airport, so this evacuation is happening with the cooperation of the Taliban," he told BBC Radio 4's World at One.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel