Taliban Say They Will Block Afghans From Kabul Airport

The Taliban mentioned they would reduce Afghan citizens from accessing Kabul’s airport for evacuation flights, a transfer that would strand tens of thousands of folks who worked with Western governments and corporations and now fear reprisals by the country’s Islamist new rulers.

The announcement by Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid generates extra obstacles for the troubled intercontinental evacuation energy. The Taliban have mentioned that they will not settle for the existence of overseas forces beyond Aug. 31, the deadline that President Biden established for the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Mr. Biden on Tuesday told other entire world leaders at a digital summit of the Group of 7 nations that the U.S. is on speed to satisfy the Aug. 31 deadline, according to U.S. officials, but he has requested his national-stability team to establish contingency designs in scenario the deadline wants to be pushed back again.

The officials observed that the evacuations are contingent on a selection of things, which includes cooperation from the Taliban.

The Aug. 31 deadline offers the U.S. just one 7 days to evacuate thousands of remaining U.S. citizens and at-possibility Afghan partners. American allies have been calling on Mr. Biden to lengthen U.S. functions in the country.