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5.12pm BST
Joe Biden reportedly plans to adhere to the August 31 deadline to complete the evacuation mission in Kabul, despite demands from other global leaders to continue the operation into next month.
CNN reports:
Biden has decided, in consultation with his national security team, to stick with the August 31 deadline for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, according to a senior administration official.
Biden made the decision mindful of the security risks in remaining the country longer, the official said, and he has asked for contingency plans in case he determines at a later date the US needs to remain in the country for longer. …
4.55pm BST
The virtual G7 meeting on Afghanistan ended after about two hours, the White House told the press pool.
The White House did not allow reporters in for the start of the meeting, but the president’s team did share a photo shortly after the discussion wrapped up:
Today, President Biden met virtually with G7 leaders to discuss a continuation of our close coordination on Afghanistan policy, humanitarian assistance, and evacuating our citizens, the brave Afghans who stood with us over the last two decades, and other vulnerable Afghans. pic.twitter.com/zFxjsm2W8H
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