RE: Found this researching23 Aug 2021 00:07
Boris Johnson will push Joe Biden to delay US withdrawal from Afghanistan
Prime Minister will put pressure on US president at G7 meeting to keep evacuation flights running from Kabul airport
By
Christopher Hope,
CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT and
Jamie Johnson
IN WASHINGTON
22 August 2021 • 9:30pm
Placeholder image for youtube video: nEq561NQQv8
Boris Johnson will on Tuesday personally ask Joe Biden for a delay to the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister will put the US president on the spot in front of world leaders at an emergency G7 meeting, after attempts by both Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to ask the same of their US counterparts fell on deaf ears.
Ministers have been pressing the US privately for days to consider delaying the withdrawal to ease the pressure on Kabul airport, where thousands of Afghans are still gathered to try to escape the Taliban. Seven people died in a crush at the weekend.
The Telegraph understands that unless Mr Biden relents, UK troops are due to start to withdraw from Kabul airport (where they have been processing families trying to leave) within days.
The Government is now preparing for thousands of Afghans to try to flee the Taliban through its land borders into countries such as ****stan, Iran and several former Soviet states around Afghanistan.
Mr Johnson is expected to meet on Monday with senior Cabinet ministers to discuss his plans to set up "processing hubs" in these countries before some are flown to the UK.
However, they were placed in jeopardy on Sunday night when Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was unhappy that they could risk allowing extremists to travel into Russia via countries that won't require visa checks.
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