Now hours not days rather than days not weeks…
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/u...stan-l73nc038s
UK races to rescue thousands from Afghanistan
Britain is scrambling to airlift more than 4,000 UK nationals and
Afghan citizens out of the country by the end of the week after the Taliban said locals would be barred from travelling to the airport.
President Biden confirmed last night that he was not planning to extend his August 31 deadline for the US withdrawal despite lobbying from Boris Johnson and other European leaders.
The decision means the last British evacuation flight is expected to leave tomorrow or Friday to ensure there is time for the 1,000 British soldiers in Kabul to get themselves out.
The government is attempting to evacuate 1,250 British citizens and other people from recognised “safe” countries, along with a further 2,500 Afghans who have supported British forces over the past 20 years, including interpreters. Ministers remain optimistic that the majority of this “core” group will be evacuated.
The UK also wants to evacuate other Afghan citizens, including politicians, civil servants, judges and those who have helped with humanitarian efforts. A government source said the August 31 deadline meant thousands in this group were unlikely to make it out…….
France said it was expecting its last civilian evacuation flight to leave tomorrow.….
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-nightly
Why the Kabul deadline is really this week