As evacuation operations continue at Kabul airport amidst the ongoing flow of civilians seeking to leave Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover, Britain has confirmed that the group's barriers around the airport are obstructing civilians' access. British Defense Minister Ben Wallace emphasized in a television interview on Tuesday that these barriers delay the arrival of those wishing to leave the country via evacuation flights, explaining that the UK has evacuated more than 2,000 people in the past 24 hours.
**No Extension for Evacuation Deadline**
Furthermore, he affirmed that the threat from terrorists becomes more serious as the deadline for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan approaches, set for August 31. Nevertheless, he speculated that Western governments are unlikely to extend the evacuation deadline from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul to give their citizens and Afghans more time to leave. Wallace told Sky News that he doubts an extension "not only because of what the Taliban have said but also considering President Biden's public statements; I think it is unlikely." He added, "Certainly, it is worth all of us trying, and we will try."
These statements come as U.S. President Joe Biden faces pressure to extend the deadline for evacuating thousands wanting to leave the country after the Taliban's takeover, which ends on August 31, during an online meeting of G7 leaders today. Meanwhile, the Taliban reiterated yesterday that this deadline (August 31) is a red line for them, threatening consequences if foreign troops do not withdraw from the country.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas announced on Monday that his country is in discussions with its NATO partners and the Taliban about keeping Kabul airport open after August 31 to evacuate as many Afghans in need of protection as possible. He noted that the majority of local employees who worked for Germany in Afghanistan have not yet been evacuated. He also indicated that Germany is negotiating with the United States, Turkey, and other partners to allow the continued operation of the airport to complete evacuation operations after the deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal. France, for its part, has urged for an extension of the allowed timeframe for evacuation operations.
