USSBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning to table the US’s evacuation deadline from Afghanistan during a virtual G7 leaders’ meeting.
Reuters reported that Johnson will urge US President Joe Biden to extend the evacuation deadline from Afghanistan.
The virtual G7 leaders’ meeting will mainly deal with the Afghan refugee crisis after the Taliban takeover of Kabul.
James Heappey, minister for the armed forces, said Britain was pushing for the deadline to be pushed beyond Aug. 31 after it identified thousands of people, including Afghan citizens, that it wants to help evacuate.
But the Taliban would need to give its approval, meaning British forces could not count on an extension, he said.
“Even though they are the seven most powerful people on the planet they don’t get to take that decision in isolation. The Taliban get a vote as well. This is why we’re continuing to work towards the 31st,” Heappey told LBC radio.
“Even if the political will in London, Washington, Paris, Berlin is for an extension, the Taliban may say no,” he said.
Taliban Refuses Evacuation Extension
However, the Taliban group considered the deadline for withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan a ‘red line.’
The group further warned of consequences if American boots remain on the ground beyond August 31.
There will be ‘consequences’ if they extend the deadline for US withdrawal from Afghanistan beyond August 31, the Taliban said.
A spokesperson for the Taliban, Suhail Shaheen, said the August 31 deadline for US withdrawal is a “red line”.
“If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations, the answer is no,” Suhail Shaheen told Sky News. He went on to say that there will be “consequences” in case of any plan to extend the deadline for withdrawal.
This warning from the Taliban seems well-timed with G7 leaders set to meet on Tuesday.
