It is unlikely the deadline to evacuate people from Afghanistan will be extended beyond 31 August, the defence secretary has said.

Ben Wallace told BBC Breakfast the UK would like more time and “every day we get after that would be a big bonus”.

But the Taliban has said any extension would be a “clear violation” of its deal with the US.

The US is being pressed by other countries to delay its withdrawal of troops.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to ask US President Joe Biden for an extension of the 31 August deadline when he chairs a virtual G7 meeting later.

• Why can’t the UK hold Kabul airport without the US?

Mr Johnson will call for an increase in aid and promise “to use every humanitarian and diplomatic lever” to protect human rights in the country.

The UK, France and Germany have all raised the possibility of US forces staying beyond the end of August to continue the airlift, and reports suggest Mr Biden will decide within the next 24 hours whether to push back the deadline.

However, a Pentagon spokesman said America’s focus remained “getting this done by the end of the month”.

More than 7,000 people have now been flown out of Kabul on RAF flights since 13 August – but UK ministers have been clear that British forces in Kabul cannot stay once the US has left.

Asked if there was any chance the 31 August deadline for US troops to leave could be extended, Mr Wallace said: “I wish we had more time. I think at the moment it is unlikely.”

“We have to plan on 31 August being the last moment. Every day we get after that would be a big bonus,” he told BBC Breakfast.

“Everyone knows that the rest of the international community wishes to have more time but there are two other people with a vote in that – that is the Taliban and the president of the United States. And in the end both of them have significant power in that final decision,” he added.

The UK and US say they will work together to allow eligible people to leave when the current phase of the operation ends.

Following a phone call on Monday, No 10 said the prime minister and the US president had committed to “driving international action” to stabilise the situation, support the Afghan people and “work towards an inclusive and representative Afghan government”.

‘Looming crisis’

The Taliban’s swift takeover of Afghanistan has shocked its people and the world. It happened after foreign forces announced their withdrawal following a deal between the US and the Taliban, two decades after American-led forces removed the militants from power in 2001.

Leaders of the G7 countries – the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – will now meet virtually to discuss the situation.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Johnson said the first priority should be “to complete the evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have assisted our efforts over the last 20 years”.

He added that, “as we look ahead to the next phase, it’s vital we come together as an international community and agree a joint approach for the longer term”.

The UN’s human rights council will also hold its own emergency session on Afghanistan later.

There have been chaotic scenes at Kabul airport as people desperate to flee the country crushed around access points, and a member of the Afghan security forces was killed in an isolated gunfight with unidentified attackers on Monday morning.

More than 1,000 UK troops are on the ground in Kabul helping to secure the airport and process British nationals and Afghans eligible for relocation due to their association with the UK government, or who are at risk from the Taliban.

The Ministry of Defence said that 7,109 people had been evacuated by the UK so far – as essential food and other supplies, including 30,000 litres of water a day, packs of baby wipes and pre-made baby milk, were flown in.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said 2,866 former interpreters, and other eligible Afghans, as well as 226 eligible embassy guards and contractors were among those evacuated from Afghanistan since 16 August.

UK government sources confirmed that a person on the country’s no-fly watchlist was flown to Birmingham as part of the evacuation of Kabul – but later deemed not to be a person of interest.

culled from BBC NEWS