Johnson to urge Biden to delay US withdrawal
Boris Johnson is expected to ask President Joe Biden to keep American forces in Afghanistan beyond 31 August to ensure more British and Afghan citizens can be airlifted out of the country.
It comes as the Taliban issued a stark warning to both US and UK forces over their reported desire to extend troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing the move as a “red line”.
Biden had previously said the US military operation in the country will end on August 31, by which point he is aiming to have evacuated all Americans from the country.
But with the Taliban tightening their grip at the airport, Boris Johnson is set to use an emergency meeting of G7 world leaders on Tuesday to ask US president Biden to reconsider his decision.
On Sunday, there were reports of Taliban fighters firing into the air and using batons to force people into queues at Kabul’s airport, where US and UK evacuations are taking place.
This morning, a firefight broke out between unidentified gunmen, Western security forces and Afghan guards at the North Gate of Kabul airport. One Afghan guard was killed and three others were injured in the battle, which also involved US and German forces, the German military said on Twitter.
It was not known who the attackers were, or whether the dead Afghan was one of the Taliban fighters deployed to guard the airport. The Taliban have until now not opened fire on NATO or Afghan troops.
Over the weekend, Biden said discussions were already taking place about extending the deadline, but that “our hope is we will not have to”.
UK government officials have said there is “no fixed date” on when the UK will withdraw, but it is feared that without US troops on the ground, the remaining allied forces would be unable to secure the area.
On Sunday, Johnson tweeted: “I will convene G7 leaders on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan. It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace have already held talks with their Washington counterparts, urging them to keep troops in Afghanistan beyond the August deadline.
UK pressure on the US comes as the Taliban issued a stark warning to allied forces against extending troop withdrawal, describing the move as a “red line”.
During a meeting with Sky News in Doha, the militant group’s spokesperson Dr Suhail Shaheen said: “If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations – the answer is no. Or there would be consequences.”
“It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.”