US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington would work to ensure Americans and Afghan partners could leave Afghanistan beyond the planned August 31 timeline for the ongoing evacuation from Kabul.   Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Blinken said that there was no deadline on the work to help Americans and those Afghan partners who remained in the country to leave. "That effort will continue every day past August 31," he said.

President Joe Biden has confirmed that his administration aimed to complete the evacuation by August 31, while asking for contingency plans to adjust the timeline if necessary, according to reports.

"We will use every diplomatic, economic assistance tool at our disposal, working hand-in-hand with the international community, first and foremost to ensure that those who want to leave Afghanistan after the 31st are able to do so," Blinken said.  The Secretary of State noted that the Taliban had made "public and private commitments to provide and permit safe passage for Americans, for third-country nationals, and Afghans at risk going forward past August 31". However, the latest statement from the Taliban showed they might be unwilling to cooperate with Washington on this issue. Blinken said during Wednesday's briefing that at least 4,500 US citizens had been evacuated since August 14, with approximately 1,500 Americans remain in the country.

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