Taliban spokesman says Aug. 31 withdrawal date is 'red line'

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - AUGUST 23: While Taliban declared August 31 as the last day for the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country, the evacuation efforts have continued at the Kabul airport on Monday, August 23, 2021.On Monday, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen gave an interview with Sky News in Doha, published, in which he warned of “consequences” if foreign forces stayed in the country beyond Aug. 31, calling it a “red line”.“President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So, if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for that," he said.Stressing that this is a red line for Taliban, he said: "If the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences."While these discussions continued, Kabul airport was very active today.Some former Afghan soldiers and their families and hundreds of civilians waited in line for hours in front of the airport to be evacuated.(Footage by Baha Kalmurat /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)