US 'unwavering' in Afghan airlift: Biden

The United States has an “unwavering commitment” to get US citizens and at-risk Afghans to safety out of Afghanistan, President Joe Biden says, as concerns remain about the threat posed by Islamic State extremists in the country.

Speaking at the White House, Biden said US-led evacuation of Americans, at-risk Afghans and others from the Kabul airport had picked up speed, with 11,000 people airlifted from Kabul in a 36-hour period this weekend.

The president said the security situation in Afghanistan was changing rapidly and his administration was under no illusions about the threat from Islamic State militants in Afghanistan known as ISIS-K (for Khorasan).

Tens of thousands of people remain to join the airlift, which has been slowed by security issues and US bureaucracy hurdles.

The Taliban, which seized power in Afghanistan last week as the US and allies withdrew troops after a 20-year war, fired in the air and used batons to force people to form queues outside the airport, witnesses said.

On Saturday, seven people were killed in a crush at the gates.

“Let me be clear, the evacuation of thousands from Kabul is going to be hard and painful” and would have been “no matter when it began”, Biden said on Sunday.

The Taliban had been “co-operative” about extending the airport perimeter, Biden said.

Reuters and AP