Washington, Aug 24 (Bureau) US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke on Monday about Afghanistan, ahead of the G7 meeting called on Tuesday by the UK to discuss the situation in the country following the Taliban takeover and efforts at evacuating their people. The two leaders discussed the ongoing efforts by their diplomatic and military personnel to evacuate their citizens, local staff, and other vulnerable Afghans.
“They also discussed plans for the G7 virtual leaders’ meeting tomorrow, underscoring the importance of close coordination with allies and partners in managing the current situation and forging a common approach to Afghanistan policy,” a White House statement said. The talks also come in the background of the Taliban declaring on Monday that they will not extend the August 31 deadline for the US to complete its evacuation of American citizens. The Taliban have warned of a “reaction” in case the US does not complete its evacuation efforts and withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan by the end of this month. Britain currently leads the group that includes the US, Italy, France, Germany, Japan and Canada. Johnson called the meeting in the wake of the Taliban’s swift takeover of Afghanistan.