Biden Urged Against Extending Afghan Deadline Over Security Concerns

United States President, Joe Biden has been urged against extending the deadline of pulling American troops out of Afghanistan due to security concerns.

Gatekeepers News reports that the U.S Military advisers had asked the White House to conclude if the evacuation of the troops in Afghanistan should be extended beyond August 31.

This follows the Taliban’s announcement that the US must withdraw all forces by August 31, a deadline that US military officials say they are still currently planning to meet.

Although, Biden has said that if need be, the mission to remove US citizens and some Afghans could stretch into September.

Pentagon spokesman, John Kirby said the military is working with an August 31 deadline in mind.

“That is the mission we’ve been assigned by the commander in chief … that’s what we’re trying to execute,” Kirby told reporters at a briefing Monday.

On Sunday, Biden who is yet to decide informed reporters that “there’s discussions going on in the military about extending. My hope is we will not have to extend.”

According to him, the decision might depend “on how far along we are in the process” of evacuating Americans.

The President is also expected to encounter a push from allies to extend the deadline during a Tuesday morning virtual meeting of G7 leaders.

Asked what he will say if G7 leaders who are expected to press him to extend ask the US to stay longer, Biden said: “We’ll see what we can do.”

Many of Biden’s advisers have advised against an extension, citing the security situation on the ground.

Gatekeepers News reports that within the last 24 hours, about 16,000 people have been evacuated from Kabul by US and coalition aircraft.