Afghanistan news – live: Biden not ruling out sending more troops to Kabul, as airport death toll hits 20

Follow the latest updates as thousands attempt to flee country

Tobias Ellwood says ‘special relationship’ between UK and US ‘is not what it was’

Joe Biden asks his defence chiefs “every single day” whether they need more troops or other resources to ensure safe evacuations of Americans and non-US citizens from Kabul airport, his national security chief said today.

Jake Sullivan told NBC’s Chuck Todd on Meet the Press that “so far” that the US president’s top generals have not indicated a need for more forces beyond the 6,000 deployed to assist with evacuations and securing the perimeter at Hamid Karzai International Airport.

He left open the possibility that such an assessment could change.

Mr Sullivan’s comments came as a Nato official confirmed that at least 20 people had been killed near Kabul airport following chaotic scenes as large crowds gathered to escape from the country.

Meanwhile, a senior Tory MP has warned that the crisis in Afghanistan showed that there had been a “demise” in the so-called special relationship between the UK and US.

Tobias Ellwood, the chair of the Commons Defence Committee, said on Sunday that the UK had “not been included in the conversations” around the withdrawal of US troops – which has led to the takeover of the country by the Taliban.

Key Points

• Afghan woman gives birth on US military aircraft
• Toddler was victim of stampede – report
• Security situation at Kabul Airport ‘acute'
• UK pushing for extension to Afghanistan evacuation deadline, minister says
• At least 20 people killed in Kabul airport chaos, Nato official says
• Johnson says G7 leaders will meet on Tuesday for ‘urgent talks’ on Afghanistan
• Abandonment of Afghanistan ‘dangerous and unnecessary’, Tony Blair says

[22 August 2021 21:49 · Lamiat Sabin]

WHO and UNICEF call for ‘humanitarian airbridge'

The World Health Organization and UNICEF are calling for a “humanitarian airbridge” to be set up immediately to allow the unhindered delivery of medicines and other aid supplies to Afghanistan.

The two UN agencies said in a statement Sunday that they are “committed to stay and deliver for the people of Afghanistan.”

But they added that “with no commercial aircraft currently permitted to land in Kabul, we have no way to get supplies into the country and to those in need.” They noted that other humanitarian agencies face similar problems.

The agencies said that, even before the Taliban's recent takeover of Afghanistan, the country required the world's third-largest humanitarian operation, with more than 18 million people needing help.

They said: “The massive humanitarian needs facing the majority of the population should not – and cannot – be neglected.”

[22 August 2021 22:05 · Lamiat Sabin]

Biden repeats vow that all Americans will exit Afghanistan

US President Joe Biden said in a speech today that 11,000 people were evacuated from Kabul over the weekend.

He reiterated his promise that all Americans who want to leave Afghanistan will be able to leave “as quickly and safely as possible.” 

He said: “We’re working hard and as fast as we can to get people out. That’s our mission. That’s our goal.” 

[22 August 2021 22:13 · Lamiat Sabin]

That’s it today for our coverage of the situation in Afghanistan.

Thank you for following.