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President Biden said on Sunday that his administration may extend the August 31 deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, after the Pentagon has requested help from U.S. airlines to evacuate Americans and Afghan partners from the country.
“There are discussions between us and the military about extending the deadline,” Biden told reporters at the White House. “Our hope is that we won’t have to extend. But I expect there will be discussions on the status of the process. “
The president spoke as U.S. airlines positioned planes to comply with a Pentagon order, announced Sunday morning under a rarely-invoked law that required six airlines to provide 18 planes to help with the evacuation. Officials said the commercial plane would not fly to and from Kabul, the Afghan capital, but would transport evacuees to the United States from bases in Germany, Qatar and Bahrain to alleviate bottlenecks. strangulation of transport.
The first flights carrying evacuees were expected Monday.
The intensification of activity came as thousands tried to enter Kabul airport in an attempt to flee, fearing retaliation from the Taliban, who seized the capital a week ago. Mr Biden and US officials also warned that Islamic State terrorists pose a threat to Americans in Afghanistan and that US officials are working to stop potential attacks and defend the airport.
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