Taliban warns there will be ‘consequences’ if US, allies do not leave Afghanistan by August 31

The Taliban have issued a warning that there will be ‘consequences’ for foreign troops who stay in Afghanistan beyond the deadline.

The Taliban have issued a warning to America and its allies, rejecting calls to allow foreign troops to stay in Afghanistan to continue evacuations past the August 31 deadline.

In an interview with BBC journalist Yalda Hakim, who was born in Afghanistan but moved to Sydney’s west in 1986, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said an extension would be a “clear violation” of the Doha agreement.

When questioned by Ms Hakim over what those “consequences” might be, Shaheen said it would be “up to our leadership how to proceed”.

Since the Taliban seized the capital Kabul on August 15, the US has been carrying out the evacuation in co-ordination with the Taliban, who have held off on attacking under a 2020 withdrawal deal with the Trump administration.

On Monday, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia was “part of the discussions” over the prospect of the United States extending its withdrawal deadline.

Yalda Hakim speaks to the Taliban again on live TV for the BBC. Picture: Supplied

“If they are to be extended, we are absolutely ready to support a continuing operation at Hamid Karzai International Airport,” she said.

Only hours earlier, Shaheen told the UK’s Sky News there would be “consequences” if foreign troops stayed beyond the deadline, saying it would become an ”extended occupation”.

“If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations — the answer is no. Or there would be consequences,” he said.

“It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction.

“They occupied our country. If we occupy your country. What will you say to me? What if I killed your people in your country what you say?

“I think all people suffered a lot. Bloodshed. Destruction. Everything. But we say the past is the past. Part of our past history. Now we want to focus on the future.”

The US has evacuated approximately 16,000 people in the last 24 hours

The US has evacuated approximately 16,000 people in the last 24 hours, a jump from 11,000 people in 30 hours over the weekend. That included 18 aircraft from 6 commercial airlines.

Around 37,000 people from Afghanistan have been evacuated by the US since August 14 but the number of Americans still stranded in the country remains unknown.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the US focus was on completing the evacuation program by the end of the month.

“We are head down focused on keeping these numbers up as best we can getting as many people out as we can by the end of the month,” he said.

“And if there needs to be a discussion about extending that timeline then we absolutely will have that discussion at the appropriate time with the commander-in-chief.”

People clinging to planes ‘weren’t scared’

The Taliban spokesman also addressed the images people have been seen falling from planes after clinging to the undercarriage of a US air force plane escaping Taliban-controlled Kabul.

“I assure you it is not about being worried or scared. They want to reside in Western countries and that is a kind of economic migration because Afghanistan is a poor country and 70 per cent of the people of Afghanistan live under the line of poverty,” Shaheen said.

“So everyone wants to resettle in Western countries to have a prosperous life. It is not about [being] scared.”

Shaheen also described recent reports of Taliban threats and violence as “fake news”.

“I can assure you there are many reports by our opponents claiming what is not based on realities,” he said.

Women have ‘lost nothing’

In the latest interview with Ms Hakim, Shaheen also dismissed reports of the Taliban threatening former government workers and closing girls’ schools as “fake news.”

“I can assure you there are many reports by our opponents claiming what is not based on realities,” he said.

“Only if they have no hijab, they will have a hijab … women are required to have the same rights as you have in your country but with a hijab.

“Now, women teachers have resumed work. Lost nothing. Female journalists they have resumed their work. Lost nothing.”