French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday, 23 August, that Paris believed it necessary to continue Afghan evacuations beyond Washington's 31 August deadline following the Taliban takeover, reported AFP.
Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen has warned the US that if the country delays the withdrawal of its troops, it will have to bear 'consequences'.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden, in an address late on Sunday on Afghanistan, said discussions are going on about the possible extension of the 31 August evacuation deadline. "Our hope is, we don't want to extend. But there is going to be a discussion, I suspect, on how far along we're in the process," he was quoted as saying.
The Taliban took over Afghanistan on 15 August, as President Ashraf Ghani fled
Since the Taliban's takeover, chaos has emerged at the airport in Kabul as countries scramble to evacuate their citizens, while locals are desperate to flee the country
168 passengers on a special flight from Kabul landed in India on Sunday
Two other flights carrying around 350 people evacuated from Kabul landed in India from Dushanbe and Doha on Sunday morning
16,000 People Evacuated From Kabul in 24 Hours: Pentagon
16,000 people have been evacuated from Kabul airport in the past 24 hours, the Pentagon said on Monday.
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France Says Need More Time For Afghan Evacuation, Taliban Stick To 31 August
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday that Paris believed it necessary to continue Afghan evacuations beyond Washington's 31 August deadline following the Taliban takeover, reported AFP.
France is seeking to evacuate more than 1,000 Afghans who are fleeing the country following the Taliban's lightning takeover a week ago, one of a number of nations scrambling to pull out vulnerable individuals.
"We are concerned about the deadline set by the United States on August 31. Additional time is needed to complete ongoing operations," Le Drian told reporters at the UAE's Al-Dhafra air base, where France has set up an air bridge for people evacuated from Kabul.
Protest Takes Place at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in Solidarity With Afghan Women
Many gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Monday evening to show solidarity with the Afghan community in the country amid Taliban’s take-over of Afghanistan, reported NDTV.
Some, as per NDTV, were carrying placards of "Save Afghan Women" and demanded support for the Afghan women.
'Consequences' if US Withdrawal Delayed:
Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen on Sunday, 22 August warned the US that if the country delays the withdrawal of its troops, it will have to bear consequences.
In an interview with Sky News, the spokesperson said:
"It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that."
"If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences," he added.