U.S. troops aid in the evacuation of Americans and others at Kabul airport. (Photo: AP-Yonhap)
[Anchor]
U.S. President Joe Biden says American troops have expanded the perimeter around Kabul airport as part of efforts to speed up the evacuation from Afghanistan.
Speaking at the White House on Sunday, Biden said the Taliban had cooperated with the move.
The BBC's Barbara Plett Usher reports.
[Reporter]
President Biden focused his remarks on what he said was the accelerating pace of the evacuation, declaring that an extraordinary number of people had been flown out of the chaotic capital.
He also told reporters that U.S. forces had improved access to the airport, suggesting that they had widened their safe zone although he warned there was a risk of attacks from Islamic State militants.
Mr. Biden said he expected the current tempo of the evacuation to continue, that he hoped to complete it by the end of the month.
But military officials were discussing the possibility of extending the airlift beyond his deadline if they needed to.
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Pressure to extend the deadline is building.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace expressed support for such a move, warning that "no nation will be able to get everyone out" before
August 31.
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