The Taliban, which recently seized power in Afghanistan, has warned that the United States and its allies will suffer ‘consequences’ if they extend the presence of troops in Afghanistan beyond August 31.
The statement was made on Monday a day after US president Joe Biden informed of discussions within his administration of possibly extending the deadline of the withdrawal of the US forces beyond August 31, according to Hindustan Times and Sky News.
The Islamist regime is treating August 31, which was announced by Biden earlier this year, as the "final" date by which all American troops deployed in Afghanistan will have been withdrawn
At an emergency meeting of the G7 convened by British prime minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday, the UK is likely to urge the US to extend the deadline.
“If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations -- the answer is no. Or there would be consequences,” Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said on Monday.
“Staying beyond the agreed deadline would be extending occupation," he added.
The Taliban captured Kabul last Sunday amid the ongoing withdrawal of the American soldiers from Afghanistan, thus seizing power for the second time.
Earlier, they ruled from 1996-2001 but were then defeated by the US-led troops who arrived here following the 9/11 attacks. Since then, the Americans have been in Afghanistan for nearly two decades.