Aug 24, 2021: The ambassador of a NATO country said that Western countries worked on a war footing on Tuesday to evacuate people from Afghanistan.

After the Taliban took control of the Afghan capital on August 15, Western troops and Afghan security guards repulsed a mob desperate to flee, sparking widespread chaos over sporadic violence.

A NATO diplomat told Reuters that the evacuating countries were working with the Taliban to meet the August 31 deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops. “Every member of the foreign force is working on a war footing to meet the deadline,” said the official, who declined to be identified.

The Group of Seven (G7) countries – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States – will meet practically later on Tuesday to discuss the crisis. Biden, who has said US troops could stay out of schedule, warned that the withdrawal would be “difficult and painful” and that much could still go wrong.

Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters after a briefing by intelligence officials about Afghanistan that he did not believe the evacuation could be completed in the next eight days. “I think it’s possible, but I think it’s very unlikely given the number of Americans who still need to be evacuated,” Schiff said.

A Taliban official said Monday that the expansion would not take place, although he said foreign forces had made no attempt to do so. Washington said talks were ongoing.

Ahead of the G7 summit, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I urge my friends and allies to stand by the Afghan people and increase their support for refugees and humanitarian aid.”

Though there have been numerous reports of Taliban aggression and intolerance on isolated but social media, as well as reports of the Taliban searching for old enemies, raising concerns.

In reality, thousands of Afghans have returned to their homes in the provinces after learning that the situation there is “relatively calm”, warning that intelligence and security reports are coming in from remote districts.

G7 leaders could discuss taking a united stand on whether to recognize the Taliban government, or renew sanctions to put pressure on the militant movement to respect women’s rights and international relations.

Taliban leaders, who have sought to show a more moderate face since the capture of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, have begun talks on forming a government, including some old enemies of previous governments, including former President Hamid Karzai.

Recognition of the Taliban government by other countries will have significant consequences, such as allowing the Taliban access to foreign aid on which previous Afghan governments have relied.

Biden will face pressure from other leaders to extend the August 31 deadline for Afghanistan evacuations. France has said more time is needed, and German Foreign Minister Heiko Moss said Monday that the G7 needs to consider whether to go beyond that date.

Biden has faced widespread criticism over the Afghanistan evacuation, which was initiated by his Republican predecessor Donald Trump under an agreement reached with the Taliban, and his approval has slipped.

For its part, the powerful US military has been grappling with the collapse of US-backed Afghanistan forces after 20 years of training.

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