The Taliban has rejected any calls to extend the US evacuation deadline beyond August 31 as operations at Kabul’s major airport accelerate to record pace

This follows the head of the CIA meeting with the militant group’s leader in secret on Monday, marking the highest contact between the two parties since Kabul fell.

Several countries are pushing the United States to have the deadline extended, including the UK and France, who are both in favour of a continuing military presence.

The Taliban’s spokesperson has also urged all Afghan nationals to avoid crowding the airport’s boundaries and return home.

The spokesperson says these Afghans will not face punishment from the country’s new rulers

“The road which goes to the airport is blocked. Afghans cannot take that road to go to the airport, but foreign nationals are allowed to”

“We are not allowing the evacuation of Afghans anymore and we are not happy with it either”.

Many of the people reported to be fleeing are educated people, and particularly women… as women were forbidden to work or attend universities or schools under the Taliban’s previous rule.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says G7 member nations have met and they are pushing the Taliban to allow safe passage for those who want to leave Afghanistan.

The White House says the President briefed the G7 member nations and assured leaders that the deadline will be met.