President Joe Biden says US evacuation efforts are “on pace” to meet a 31 August deadline. But how much leverage does the West have on Afghanistan? Please subscribe HERE http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

US President Joe Biden says the US is “on pace” to meet a 31 August deadline for evacuations, despite previous calls from allies for an extension.

“The sooner we finish the better,” he said. Some American troops have already been withdrawn, US media report – although evacuations are not affected.

At least 70,700 people have been airlifted from Kabul, which fell to the Taliban nine days ago.

The militants have opposed any extension to the evacuation deadline.

President Biden was speaking after leaders of the G7 – which consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, plus the EU – discussed the Afghan crisis during a virtual meeting.

The UK and other allies had urged the US to stay beyond 31 August to allow more relief fights.

BBC Newsnight’s Mark Urban reports and Kirsty Wark is joined by the former UK Ambassador to Afghanistan William Patey, Afghan businesswoman and activist Hassina Syed and Harvard Prof Graham Allison.

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