Taliban stand firm on Aug. 31 troop departure deadline

UK urges continued US presence to facilitate evacuations

20210823N Marines in Kabul

U.S. Marines on duty at an evacuation control checkpoint at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Aug. 20. (U.S. Marine Corps via Reuters) © Reuters

YUSUKE NAKAJIMA and JUNNOSUKE KOBARA, Nikkei staff writer

LONDON/TOKYO -- The Taliban will not extend the Aug. 31 deadline for foreign troops to withdraw from Afghanistan, fueling concerns of further disruptions in rescue efforts out of the country.

A failure by foreign forces to leave by their previously announced deadlines would be a "clear violation" and trigger "consequences," a Taliban spokesman said, according to reports by the BBC and other outlets.

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