Afghanistan crisis live updates: India allowed to operate two flights daily to evacuate citizens from Kabul

Two top human rights organizations called Friday for President Joe Biden to extend the August 31 deadline for US troops to leave Kabul in order to help evacuate Afghans fearing Taliban reprisals. Sarah Holewinski, head of the Washington bureau at Human Rights Watch, told a news conference the most at-risk Afghans would not be able to get out before the deadline unless flights out of Kabul are ramped up. Speaking from an undisclosed location, Shaharzad Akbar, head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, said Afghans feared being abandoned by Washington.

The Taliban's takeover could stop hundreds of Afghans from taking up university places in Russia or continuing with classes that have moved online due to COVID-19 restrictions, students who fear disruption to their educations told Reuters on Friday.

"We are only pushing (away) those who have no legal papers to travel, but who are adding to the chaos at Kabul airport gate," he said.

Boris Johnson said on Friday Britain would work with the Taliban if needed after the militants capture of Afghanistan. "What I want to assure people is that our political and diplomatic efforts to find a solution for Afghanistan, working with the Taliban, of course if necessary, will go on," Johnson told media