The US is in a hurry to complete the evacuation from Afghanistan

More than 10,000 people have been evacuated from Hamid Karzai International Airport in the 12 hours to Monday at 10 pm, the White House has announced.

As a result, 53,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since July, most of them evacuated since 14 August, when the Taliban fell to Kabul.

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Earlier, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the evacuees included “several thousand” U.S. citizens and thousands of Afghans working for the American contingent and requesting special immigration visas.

Afghans are also being evacuated and are facing retaliation by the Taliban for their activities in NGOs and the media.

Kirby said the goal is to complete the evacuation operation by August 31, which President Joe Biden has set a deadline for troop withdrawal.

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To date, 5,800 American troops have been deployed, who have been effectively operating and securing Kabul Airport since August 14, as well as the equipment at their disposal.

German, British and French officials said on Monday that their evacuation could continue beyond 31 August and called for US troops to be left at Kabul airport to support the international operation.

G7 leaders will discuss the situation in Afghanistan on Tuesday.

Kirby did not categorically rule out the possibility that Washington could extend its mission, although the Taliban have warned that the United States will have to keep its word.