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The United States of America is in a hurry to allow more time for the evacuation of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as the deadline for their withdrawal draws near.
Under an agreement with the Taliban, the United States must leave by August 31 of this year.
But France, the UK and Germany have all raised the possibility of giving more time before a summit on Tuesday.
US President Joe Biden is expected to decide within the next 24 hours whether to extend the withdrawal deadline, an official told Reuters news agency.
However, the Taliban told the BBC that any extension would violate the agreed deal and warned of the consequences if the forces remained.
Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from the Afghan capital Kabul, but others seeking to flee remain crowded in or near the city’s airport, which is guarded by US forces and their allies.
Thousands of people, foreign nationals and Afghans, continue to crowd the gates of the airport.
In the middle of the crowd, even those with the correct permits cannot pass. Some have been waiting there for days, with little shelter or food.
At least 20 people have been killed in shootings and pushes at the airport since last week. More than 10,000 were evacuated on Monday, but time is running out.
The Taliban said if foreign forces remained beyond the end of August, it would be considered a violation. Many are hopeful that President Biden will announce an extension of the deadline.
Elsewhere in the country, the BBC has spoken to people in hiding for fear of being killed by the Taliban. They say they can’t afford to leave.
There are millions in Afghanistan who are also supporting the insurgent group, hoping they will end the violence.
The Taliban have had discussions about forming a government. Markets and workplaces are slowly opening up. But banks are still closed and fewer women are visible on the streets.
Many people on the run, especially those who have worked with foreign forces, live in fear of reprisals from a group that imposed a harsh version of Islamic law when it was in power from 1996 to 2001.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters in the United Arab Emirates: “We are concerned about the deadline set by the United States of August 31. Additional time is needed to complete ongoing operations.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said he had discussed keeping Kabul airport open beyond the deadline with NATO allies and the Taliban.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to push the United States for an extension on Tuesday at the virtual summit with other G7 leaders. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the prime minister “will try to raise the prospect of seeing if the United States will extend” their withdrawal.
The UK has said any foreign military presence at Kabul airport cannot continue without US troops.
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