Boris Johnson calls G7 meeting on Tuesday to discuss Afghanistan crisis

UK prime minister Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of G7 leaders on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan.

“I will convene G7 leaders on Tuesday for urgent talks on the situation in Afghanistan. It is vital that the international community works together to ensure safe evacuations, prevent a humanitarian crisis, and support the Afghan people to secure the gains of the last 20 years,” he tweeted.

A screenshot of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s tweet on August 22, 2021. /@BorisJohnson

The UK currently occupies the chair of the grouping of wealthy nations comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, and Johnson has been pushing for a meeting for the past week.

The Western allies have faced mounting criticism over their handling of the crisis in Afghanistan amid chaotic scenes as thousands of Afghans and foreigners try to flee Kabul following the hardline Islamist group’s return to power.

Following a virtual meeting Thursday, G7 foreign ministers urged the Taliban to provide safe passage for those trying to flee the capital, the bloc’s first formal statement on the crisis.

The U.S., which has sent thousands of troops temporarily to try to secure the airport and help evacuate its nationals and Afghans who helped them, has set a deadline to complete the airlifts by August 31.

However, allies including the UK have suggested they would support extending the deadline, an issue likely to feature prominently at Tuesday’s discussion.