Photos: Biden aims to stick to Afghanistan withdrawal deadline, despite pressure from G-7 allies

WASHINGTON — President Biden appeared unwilling to bend to pressure, including from European allies at a virtual meeting of G-7 leaders, to continue a massive evacuation effort from Afghanistan, planning to stick to his Aug. 31 deadline for troop withdrawal.

Although Biden is inclined to agree with the Pentagon’s recommendation to draw down forces by next week, he could keep troops there longer if the Taliban interfered with U.S. evacuation efforts, an administration official said. Leaders of the Taliban, who have seized most of the country, including the capital and government, have warned of dire “consequences” if the U.S. misses the deadline set by Biden.

At a press conference in Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said an extension of the U.S. presence would be “a violation of the agreement” and suggested the extremist militant group would no longer allow Afghans passage to the airport beyond the deadline, according to an interpreter.

A military transport plane launches while Afghans who cannot get into the airport watch while stranded outside in Kabul.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

A boy sells cotton candy in the area where Afghans are waiting outside the airport in Kabul on Monday.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Zabihullah Mujahid speaks to hundreds of religious leaders attending the Taliban’s preaching and guidance commission in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

A father with two boys on the road to the military entrance of the airport for evacuations in Kabul, Afghanistan.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Afghans who attended Friday prayers at a Kabul mosque clamor to greet Khalil Haqqani, leader of the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Taliban fighters lay their weapons down and pray Friday.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Men listen to Mohammad Shafiq Khatib give a sermon Friday in Kabul.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

A Taliban fighter keeps Afghans from crossing and explains the process of a checkpoint passage to the road that leads to the military entrance of the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Taliban fighters mobilize to control a crowd that is rallying to raise the national flag of Afghanistan during an independence day rally at Pashtunistan Square in Kabul.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Afghans make their way to the road leading to the military entrance of the airport.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Afghans head toward the road to the airport.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Afghans head toward the road to the airport.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

A U.S. Marine lifts an infant over a barbed-wire fence at the Kabul international airport.

(Omar Haidiri / Getty Images )

A U.S. Marine airman comforts an infant during an evacuation Friday at the international airport in Kabul.

(Sgt. Isaiah Campbell / U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. troops stand guard on a roadside near the Kabul airport.

(Wakil Kohsar / AFP/Getty Images)

Turkish soldiers help a man and young girl during the airport evacuation effort.

(Aykut Karadag / Anadolu Agency )

U.S. Marines assist with security at an evacuation control checkpoint.

(Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla / U.S. Marine Corps)

A U.S. Marine with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) provides fresh water to a child during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Aug. 20. 2021.

(Sgt. Samuel Ruiz / U.S. Marine Corps)

British and Turkish coalition forces, along with U.S. Marines, assist a child during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Aug. 20, 2021.

(Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla / U.S. Marine Corps)

Afghans sit inside a U.S. military aircraft to leave Afghanistan.

(Shakib Rahmani / AFP/Getty Images)