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US currently on pace to finish Afghan evacuation by August 31
According to the We For News, President Joe Biden on Tuesday told Group of Seven (G7) leaders that the United States aimed at completing Afghan evacuation by August 31, while asking for contingency plans to adjust the timeline if necessary.
The We For News said the Xinhua reported that White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement, Biden attended a virtual G7 summit over Afghanistan earlier in the day, during which “he confirmed we are currently on pace to finish by August 31st.”
she said, referring to the local affiliate of the Islamic State that “He also made clear that with each day of operations on the ground, we have added risk to our troops with increasing threats from ISIS-K.”
She added, “In addition, the President has asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timeline should that become necessary.”
The We For News noted that earlier on Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid made it clear that the US should withdraw all troops and contractors from the country before the deadline and no extension for the ongoing evacuation process would be possible.
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It should be noted that Biden is facing pressure from allies and lawmakers to extend the ongoing evacuation beyond August 31.
Media reports said, Britain and France had expected Biden to leave US troops in Kabul for additional days for the evacuation.
The US has been scrambling to evacuate Americans and its Afghan partners from the country since the Taliban entered the capital Kabul on August 15.
Source: wefornews
