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| Afghans attempt to get into Kabul airport yesterday |
'No country will be able to get everyone out': Defense Secretary admits desperate Afghans trying to flee to the UK will have to bypass Taliban after August 31
The Ministry of Defense is creating "hubs" to deal with Afghan refugees in countries such as Pakistan and Turkey.
However, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Afghans fleeing the Taliban may have to withdraw themselves.
It comes amid fears of an August 31 rescue deadline when the US is believed to be withdrawing its remaining forces.
There cannot be 900 British troops in Afghanistan without the logistical support of 6,000 American troops in Kabul.
So they will have to finish the evacuation before that point to allow them to escape safely from Afghanistan.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced today that Afghans trying to flee to Britain to escape the Taliban would have to make their way to the border if the Americans do not delay their departure from the country.
In a powerfully poignant article in The Mail on Sunday, Wallace warned that time is "running by time, and impossible to stop" the UK's mission to rescue thousands of Afghans entitled to come to the UK.
Realizing that "no country will be able to get everyone out," Wallace also announced that a series of "processing centers" would be set up in countries neighboring Afghanistan for refugees who could escape. If they can prove their right to come to the UK, they will be flown to Britain.
The Department of Defense is looking at establishing hubs in countries like Pakistan and Turkey - but amazingly, it is also exploring whether the Taliban might allow the UK to maintain its "presence" in Kabul after the Americans leave.
Wallace made a persuasive plea to Washington to delay the US departure date beyond August 31, writing: "Maybe the Americans will be allowed to stay longer, and we will have our full support if they do."
The 900 British soldiers could not survive without the logistical support of the 6000 American forces in Kabul. They would have to finish the evacuation before that point to allow enough time to secure their safe exit.
Wallace's announcement coincided with scenes of a massacre at Kabul airport yesterday, with reports that at least 4 women were killed in a stampede.
Yesterday, US citizens were warned not to go to the airport amid fears that armed men might kidnap them. The US State Department said the US side of the airport would be closed for 48 hours. The British section remained open.
According to the Ministry of Defense, 3,821 Britons and Afghans have been evacuated from Kabul, where 1,000 British soldiers are stationed. About 3,500 people are still waiting to be airlifted.
Last night, a Defense Ministry source said the announcement of the refugee centers was meant to show "honesty" about the thousands of British allies likely to be behind them.
In a separate announcement last night, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Britain had "stepped up to the mark" after granting him 200 visa waivers for Afghan journalists to flee.
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