Poland, Belgium end Afghan evacuation as clock ticks down

By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA
Associated Press

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland and Belgium ended their evacuations from Afghanistan, but other European nations vowed to press on for as long as possible. The decisions came as the clock ticked down on the dramatic airlift of people fleeing Taliban rule ahead of a full American withdrawal. President Joe Biden is sticking to his Aug. 31 deadline for completing the U.S. pullout. That ramps up pressure on the already risky operation to fly people out of Kabul. In new warnings, the U.S., Australia, Britain and New Zealand advised their citizens of new threats at the airport. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the risks have been increasing daily and that’s why the evacuations were proceeding with haste.