US says Taliban commit to allowing departures after Aug 31

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Taliban have committed to allowing Americans and at-risk Afghans to leave the war-torn country after the Aug. 31 US withdrawal deadline, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

"Particularly because the effort to bring out of Afghanistan does not end with the military evacuation plan on the 31st, we are very focused on what we need to do to facilitate the further departure of people who want to leave Afghanistan," Blinken told reporters at the State Department.

"They will not be forgotten, and as I said, we will use every diplomatic, economic assistance tool at our disposal, working hand-in-hand with the international community first and foremost to ensure that those who want to leave Afghanistan after the 31st are able to do so," he added.

Blinken said Washington holds "points of incentive, and points of leverage" with the future Afghan government regarding the extraction of Afghans and Americans seeking to leave.