During an interview with Sky News television on Monday, a Taliban spokesman warned the United States and its allies of "consequences" if it postponed the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan scheduled for August 31 in order to continue the evacuations in Kabul.
"This is a red line," said Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen. President Biden announced that (the United States) will withdraw all of its armed forces on August 31. Therefore, if it extends (its presence), it means that it is extending the occupation, when this is not necessary.”
"If the United States or the United Kingdom asks for more time in order to continue the evacuations, the answer is no. Otherwise, there will be consequences.” "This will create mistrust between us," he said. If they intend to continue the occupation, this will cause a reaction.”
US President Joe Biden opened the door, under pressure from his allies, to the possibility of extending the deadline for withdrawing US forces beyond August 31, while thousands of families who gathered near Kabul International Airport are trying to leave the country before that date.
For his part, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced to reporters Monday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will try during the virtual G7 summit dedicated to Afghanistan to raise the possibility of the United States extending its presence.
The British Minister in charge of the Armed Forces, James Hebei, confirmed earlier in an interview with Sky News that the decision to extend the US presence in Kabul is not only up to Washington, but also to the Taliban.
"Then talks will start with the Taliban and the Taliban will have a choice between seeking cooperation with the international community and demonstrating their desire to be part of the international system ... (or) saying that there is no opportunity" for an extension of the US presence, he said.
According to a spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, there has been no "direct contact to this end" with the Taliban. "We will continue to carry out evacuation procedures as long as the security situation allows," he said. We must be flexible in our approach,” noting that “no fixed date” has been set for the completion of the evacuation procedures.
Later on Monday, Johnson consulted by phone with US President Joe Biden on the eve of the Group of Seven summit scheduled for Tuesday. A Downing Street statement said the two sides agreed to "continue to work together to ensure that all those entitled to leave are able to do so."
And the British army announced on Sunday that it had evacuated 5,725 people from Afghanistan since August 13, including 3,100 Afghans.
