Boris: Airlifts Will Go Down To ‘Last Moment'

We’ll use leverage to get thousands more out of Kabul, pledges Boris

- Macer Hall

THE Prime Minister last night vowed to “get thousands more out” of Afghanistan as the military evacuation neared its deadline.

Boris Johnson said that troops will continue the Kabul airlift “right up to the last moment”.

It comes after the final hopes of extending the evacuation deadline of August 31 were extinguished. President Joe Biden yesterday rejected calls for US troops to stay any later to allow the multinational evacuation effort to continue.

The President refused to alter his deadline following menacing warnings from the Taliban that further evacuations “will not be allowed” after Tuesday. And, according to reports last night, US troops have already started leaving.

Militants yesterday demanded an immediate end to Afghans being evacuated. But Mr Johnson and other world leaders urged the Taliban to allow “safe passage” for anyone wanting to leave Afghanistan after the deadline.

A virtual summit of the G7 group of nations, chaired by the Prime Minister, agreed a “road map” for dealing with the Taliban.

Following the meeting, the PM insisted the UK’s airlift had been “extraordinary” with around 9,226 people rescued in 57 flights amid “harrowing scenes” at Kabul Airport. Evacuated Afghan passengers were arriving at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, yesterday and unaccompanied children were escorted by officials there.