President Biden Will Keep August 31 Troop Withdraw Deadline In Afghanistan

President Joe Biden has decided that he will stick to an August 31 deadline to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan. The decision comes as the military continues to evacuate U.S. citizens and Afghan allies who helped the United States during the 20-year war.

Biden made the decision after consulting with his national security team. His advisors voiced concerns about the dangers soldiers will face from the Taliban if they remain in the country after the deadline. He also asked them to create contingency plans in case the Pentagon needs to send troops back into Afghanistan after the deadline has passed.

According to Reuters, the August 31 withdraw is contingent on the Taliban cooperating with the ongoing evacuation efforts. The U.S. military has been handling those efforts after taking over a portion of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

"We are currently on a pace to finish by August 31. I am determined to complete our mission," President Biden said in a speech from the White House.

"The completion by August 31 depends on the Taliban continuing to cooperate and allow access to the airport to those who are transporting out and no disruptions to our operation, Biden added. "The sooner we finish the better."

The White House said that 12,700 people were evacuated by 37 U.S. military flights, and an additional 8,900 people were evacuated on coalition aircraft over the past 24 hours. The Pentagon said that planes are leaving from Kabul every 45 minutes.

Overall, 63,900 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since the end of July.