Afghanistan

Warning: This report contains distressing images.

Earlier this month, we spoke to the Kabul-based journalist Bilal Sarwary from Afghanistan. He has fled the country as a result of persistent threats from theTaliban and is now in Doha.

In the US, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to give an update on the evacuation.

We spoke to Charlie Herbert, the former British Army major-general, who is trying to save Afghan interpreters from the Taliban. 

As the deadline approaches, the British government said they will use “every hour” left to evacuate as many people out of Afghanistan as possible. 

In Kabul, the clock continues to tick for those wanting to flee Afghanistan. There was no let-up in the chaos at the city’s airport as families at the gates begged soldiers for a space on the departing planes. 

We spoke to musician Aryana Saeed and began by asking her about the journey she took to leave Afghanistan.

The Pentagon has given more detail about stepping up evacuation efforts in Kabul.

We spoke to Kim Darroch, who was the British Ambassador to the United States, and Michael McKinley who was the US Ambassador to Afghanistan.

Boris Johnson’s efforts to use the UK’s G7 presidency to persuade the US to extend its deadline in Afghanistan has failed.

The message from the Taliban today was clear – all foreign troops have to leave by Tuesday next week. Joe Biden wouldn’t budge from that deadline either, despite calls from other G7 leaders for a delay to allow more people to be evacuated.

Afghanistan’s flag will be included in tomorrow’s opening ceremony for the Paralympics, even though the country’s athletes are unable to make it to Japan for the games. 

We spoke to Sir Christopher Meyer, a former diplomat who served as the British ambassador to the United States.

In the US, the evacuation of citizens and Afghan allies is also under intense scrutiny. 

The evacuation deadline is felt keenly by those racing to get friends and family out of Kabul.