Military begins reducing presence in Kabul; Biden says U.S. ‘on pace’ to meet Aug. 31 deadline

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Separation mixes with hope and uncertainty in the U.S. base hosting Afghan evacuees
‘The sooner we can finish, the better,’ Biden says of U.S. mission in Afghanistan; 70,700 evacuated since Aug. 14
U.S. starts reducing troops at Kabul airport as Taliban deadline looms

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The United States has begun to reduce its military presence at the Kabul airport as President Biden seeks to stick to an Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawing from Afghanistan.

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Fighters holed up in the northern Panjshir Valley, the last part of Afghanistan still outside Taliban control, want a negotiated resolution to the standoff, an aide in the anti-Taliban stronghold said. Delegations from the two sides met Tuesday, according to another person in the fighters’ camp.

The United States and allied countries flew nearly 21,700 people out of Kabul in a 24-hour window ending Tuesday, the White House said. Since Aug. 14, the United States has helped evacuate 70,700 people.

The Taliban is still allowing foreign nationals to leave Kabul, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, but is stopping Afghan nationals from reaching the airport.

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