Biden pushes for Aug 31 Afghanistan pullout as threat of attacks rises

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Aug. 24 the United States is on pace to finish evacuations from Afghanistan by Aug. 31, but left open the chance of the deadline being extended, saying reaching that goal is dependent on continued cooperation from the country's new Taliban rulers.   

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The Taliban said earlier on Aug. 24 that all foreign evacuations from the country must be completed by Aug. 31.

In remarks at the White House, Biden said the United States was racing to meet that deadline as concerns mount over the threat of militant attacks.    

"The sooner we can finish, the better," Biden said. "Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops."    Continued coordination with the Taliban remains crucial to meeting the deadline, he said, but he called it a "tenuous situation" with a "serious risk of breaking down as time goes on."     

Biden said he asked the Pentagon and the State Department to develop contingency plans to push past the deadline should that prove necessary.    

The Democratic president, whose administration has been under fire for its handling of the pullout, said U.S. forces had now helped evacuate 70,700 people since Aug. 14.    

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Biden said his administration was working to rebuild a system for processing refugees that he said was "purposely destroyed" by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump.   

"We must all work together to resettle thousands of Afghans who ultimately qualify for refugee status. The United States will do our part," he said.    

Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was growing concern about suicide bombings by Islamic State at the airport, which has been overwhelmed by Afghans and foreign citizens rushing to leave,...