Washington – President Joe Biden on Sunday said he still hopes to complete the “heartbreaking” evacuation from Afghanistan by the end of the month but warned of potential terrorist attacks against the crowded Kabul airport.
As the numbers of evacuees steadily rose, despite a volatile situation on the ground and enormous logistical difficulties, Biden said he was aiming to complete the task by 31 August, the date agreed with the Taliban.
He said his “hope is we will not have to extend,” while speaking in the White House.
“We’ll see what we can do,” he added when asked by reporters what his reply was to foreign leaders asking for more time.
The White House said late Sunday that since last weekend, when the Taliban completed their victorious sweep across Afghanistan by capturing Kabul from the fleeing national government, the US “has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of approximately 30,300 people on military and coalition flights.”
The president acknowledged the searing scenes of Afghans crowding the airport in desperation to escape the militants but said this had to be accepted, given the situation.
“There is no way to evacuate this many people without pain and loss and heartbreaking images you see,” said Biden.
