US president Joe Biden has rejected the pleas of domestic and international allies to keep troops in Afghanistan for evacuation efforts beyond the end of the month, citing the growing threat of a terrorist attack.

• Leaders from G7 nations: France, Germany, Italy, the UK, the US, Canada and Japan as well as the heads of NATO, the UN and the EU executive convened on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Afghanistan but statements made after the meeting suggest they remain sharply divided over how to handle the matter.
• In a joint statement they said that the "immediate priority is to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have partnered with us and assisted our efforts over the past twenty years, and to ensure continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan."
• In a response Biden said at the White House on Tuesday that “We are currently on a pace to finish by August the 31st. The sooner we can finish, the better. Each day of operations brings added risk to our troops.”
• Biden also noted that he has asked the Pentagon and the state department for “contingency plans to adjust the timetable should that become necessary”.
• He continued: “I’m determined to ensure that we complete our mission, this mission. I’m also mindful of the increasing risks that I’ve been briefed on and the need to factor those risks in.”

Biden pointed out that 70,700 people have been evacuated from Kabul since 14 August. But his reluctance to extend the 31 August deadline disappointed politicians at home and leaders abroad who contend that it is unrealistic.