Sharjah24 – AFP: 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 August 31, the date agreed with the Taliban.
Speaking in the White House, he said his "hope is we will not have to extend."
"We'll see what we can do," he added, when asked by reporters what his reply was to foreign leaders asking for more time.
Biden said that since last weekend, when the Taliban completed their victorious sweep across Afghanistan by capturing Kabul from the fleeing national government, about 28,000 people had been flown out.
He 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," he said.
Underlining why US officials are keen to complete the mission as soon as possible, Biden warned that Islamic State extremists known as ISIS-K pose a constant threat.
"We know that terrorists may seek to exploit the situation," he said. "It's still a dangerous operation."
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