THE U-S IS RAMPING UP THE EVACUATION PROCESS IN AFGHANISTAN... BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THE OVERALL EFFORT CAN BE FINISHED BY THE END OF THE MONTH. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN TO EXTENDING THAT DEADLINE... AND THERE ARE NEW REPORTS ABOUT A POSSIBLE SECRETIVE MEETING BETWEEN THE CIA DIRECTOR AND THE HEAD OF THE TALIBAN.
WE'RE GETTING THE LATEST ON THE SITUATION WITH FOREIGN POLICY'S JACK DETSCH.
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--The White House says that over the 24 hour period ending at 3am Eastern Time Tuesday, approximately 21,600 people were evacuated from Kabul. Since August 14, 58,700 people have been evacuated.
-- Today, President Biden will attend a virtual meeting with G7 leaders focused on the situation in Afghanistan. The White House said this is an opportunity for the President to discuss the evacuation effort underway in Afghanistan and to ensure the US and key allies are united on the way forward there. President Biden will deliver remarks on Afghanistan at noon eastern time from the White House.
-- The Washington Post is reporting there was a secretive meeting between William Burns, the director of the CIA, and Mullah Baradar, the de facto leader of the Taliban. Not confirmed by the CIA. But if it happened, it would seem that the key topic of discussion is a potential extension to the August 31 deadline.