Will Joe cut and run? Boris Johnson prepares to join France and Germany making last-ditch plea to US President to extend evacuation deadline in G7 talks TODAY - but nobody's holding their breath
- The chances of extension to the August 31 deadline for withdrawing US forces from Kabul look to be receding
- UK, France and Germany expected to make final plea to the US president at virtual G7 talks on the crisis today
- Boris Johnson and Joe Biden discussed the evacuation last night but seemed to make no significant progress
Ministers have dismissed hopes that
Joe Biden will extend the August 31 deadline for withdrawing US troops from
Afghanistan as the UK, France and Germany prepare to make a last-ditch plea in G7 talks today.
Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron and
Angela Merkel are set to push the case for keeping the evacuation operation in place longer with thousands of desperate people still flocking to Kabul airport.
However, Mr Biden is still defying international and domestic pressure to prolong the airlift, even though it means troops might have to start focusing on their own exit plan within 24 hours.
A call with Mr Johnson last night failed to make any progress, while the Taliban has warned of 'consequences' if there is an attempt to cling on.
Defence Secretary
Ben Wallace conceded this morning it is 'unlikely' the deadline will be extended, after the RAF extracted another 2,000 people in the past 24 hours.
'I think it is unlikely. Not only because of what the Taliban has said but if you look at the public statements of President Biden I think it is unlikely,' Mr Wallace said.
'It is definitely worth us all trying, and we will.'
With the prospects of maintaining the military action receding, attention is turning to plans after August 31, with suggestions the Taliban could allow civilian evacuation flights to continue.
However, efforts are continuing to get Mr Biden to change his approach, with the US chair of the House Intelligence Committee warning he is 'unlikely' to meet the current timetable for evacuating America citizens and their allies.
Adam Schiff made the grim prediction after an intelligence briefing, saying completing the operation was 'possible' but 'very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated' as well as other people promised protection.
Tory MP Tom Tugendhat – who served as an Army officer in Afghanistan – said all the UK could do was 'ask the Americans if they're willing to stand with us'.
He added: 'If they're not then we can't secure the perimeter and we can't manage air traffic control, so if the Americans decide to go now I'm afraid that is it. But we can ask.'
Mr Tugendhat said he understands Joe Biden has to make 'a very difficult decision', but said many families are struggling to get through the gate and 'a day, maybe two days longer, would help just a few more'.