Boris Johnson Calls for Increased Afghanistan Aid

The British prime minister is to urge world leaders to step up support for refugees fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan when he chairs a virtual G7 meeting later.
The British prime minister is to urge world leaders to step up support for refugees fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan when he chairs a virtual G7 meeting later.

According to BBC, Boris Johnson will call for an increase in aid, and promise “to use every humanitarian and diplomatic lever” to protect human rights in the country.

He is also expected to ask U.S. President Joe Biden to extend the 31 August deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops.

The UK, France, and Germany have all raised the possibility of U.S. forces staying beyond the end of August to continue the airlift, and reports suggest Mr Biden will decide within the next 24 hours whether to push back the deadline.

However, a Pentagon spokesman said the U.S.’s focus remained “getting this done by the end of the month.”

On the other hand, the Taliban has told the BBC that any extension would be a “clear violation” of an agreed deal.