White House Weighs Evacuating Afghans as Time Runs Out
- Thousands of translators and other workers could be at risk
- U.S. embassy in Kabul is understaffed, visa program backlogged
Afghan National Army soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint outside a U.S. military base in Bagram on April 29, 2021.
Photographer: Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images
This article is for subscribers only.
The Biden administration is debating how to get thousands of Afghans who worked for the U.S. out of the country before American forces withdraw in a few months, amid fears that time is running out ahead of a potential Taliban takeover.
White House national security aides have held several meetings about the issue in recent days to trade ideas, discussing options including a mass evacuation of thousands of people to a third country where they could be processed and brought to the U.S.