Afghans hoping to escape to the UK suggested they may have to make their own way to safety if the US doesn’t delay its plan to leave the country by the end of the month said a UK minister.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is calling on the US to remain longer in Afghanistan to help people out of the country that is now in the hands of the Taliban.
In what is likely to be read as a plea to Washington, he said "no nation will be able to get everyone out" of the Taliban-controlled country, with the US president's August 31 target date making the rescue mission even more time pressured.
But the Cabinet minister looked to assure those who are almost certain to be left behind that the UK will continue to work to repatriate them even once troops are home.
US troops are due to leave by August 31 and Mr Wallace said the UK would offer its "complete support" to American troops staying longer so that more people can be freed from life under Taliban rule.
Mr Wallace, writing for the Mail on Sunday, said: “Perhaps the Americans will be permitted to stay longer and they will have our complete support if they do.”
He appeared to recommend that any Afghans left behind once troops exit the country should head for the borders where "processing hubs across the region outside Afghanistan" will be set up for those who Britain has "an obligation to bring to this country".
Chaos has descended on Kabul since the Taliban takeover last Sunday and it has led to opponents of the new regime to seek desperately to leave.
Massive crowds have built up outside Kabul airport with the entry now controlled by the Talibans.
Four Afghan women were crushed to death on Saturday as they sought to access the airfield where military repatriation flights are leaving from, reports the Independent.
Footage has shown Taliban soldiers firing above crowds to get them to disperse and now there are reports of at least four women have died in a stampede.
Foreign nationals have been trying to leave via the airport but their path has been hindered by the Talibans and many are worried that by identifying themselves they could face reprisals.
The Ministry of Defence has said that 3,821 British and Afghan nationals have now been evacuated from Kabul but there are around 3,500 people still waiting to be taken out.
Mr Wallace said: "Too many people in the airport has meant a suspension of access. I am confident that too will be fixed or mitigated but until it is, the crowds will get bigger.
"And ticking along, impossible to stop, is time. I have said all along that no nation will be able to get everyone out.
"It is a source of deep sadness for many of us across NATO and no one wanted 20 years of sacrifice to end this way. We will do our best to the very last moment. But it isn’t the end.”
He also praised the 1,000 UK service personnel situated in Afghanistan for "risking their lives" to help with the evacuation efforts, and said he was keen to work out a way for Britain to "keep a presence" in the Taliban-controlled country even after military rescue efforts are over.
There are concerns that the Taliban will now become a safe haven for terrorist groups including Al Qaeda as they try and plot future attacks.
The UK government is reportedly seeking to have the Taliban identified as a terrorist group which would mean that it would be a criminal offence for anyone from the UK to join or support it.
