Taliban threatens there will be consequences if troops dont leave Afghanistan in time

The Taliban has said "there will be consequences" if troops are not withdrawn by the end of the month.

A Taliban spokesperson spoke out as the UK races to airlift 12,000 desperate people from Afghanistan.

Dr Suhail Shaheen said Nato troops would be crossing a "red line" if they stayed beyond August 31.

Shaheen said: "All forces should withdraw on the timeline they announced - 31 August."

He said people could still flee the country once commercial flights reopen and added: "They can evacuate anyone through commercial flights, with visas issued by the concerned country."

Stranded Afghans are worried they will be barred from getting visas due to many of the western embassies being closed.

Dr Suhail Shaheen said Nato troops would be crossing a "red line" if they stayed beyond August 31 ( Sergei Savostyanov/TASS)

Sky News reports that Shaheen also said that "if the US or UK were to seek additional time to continue evacuations - the answer is no. Or there would be consequences.

"It will create mistrust between us. If they are intent on continuing the occupation it will provoke a reaction."

Earlier on Monday Britain's armed forces minster James Heappey warned that Kabul could turn into a warzone if the US and British forces don't abide by the Taliban's deadline.

U.S. Airmen and U.S. Marines guide qualified evacuees aboard a U.S. Air Force ( via REUTERS)

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also said the Kabul evacuation effort is "down to hours now, not weeks" and said the UK's involvement in the rescue mission will end when the US leaves Afghan.

He said: "It's really important for people to understand the United States have over 6,000 people in Kabul airport and when they withdraw that will take away the framework...and we will have to go as well.

"We are really down to hours now, not weeks and we have to make sure we exploit every minute to get people out.

"It's in the Taliban's interest to keep the country open, there are border crossing points into Islamabad and in Pakistan to some of the other neighbouring countries that are open.

"I would think the Taliban want the airport to function and that means in the not too distant future, people that are eligible will be able to leave the country and make their way either overland or, indeed, on flights to the Emirates and other parts of the world which has been the norm up to date."

No 10 said "discussions on the ground" had been held with the Taliban over extended the deadline for evacuation, but that officials were still working towards a deadline of the end of the month.

Taliban fighters stand on a vehicle ( AFP via Getty Images)

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Given the Americans are providing the vast bulk of security and facilitating the functioning of the airport in Kabul, and given we have previously spoken to other Nato countries about staying and that didn't prove to be a viable option, we are going to need the airport at the same tie as the Americans.

"We will continue to run out evacuation process as long as the security situation allows."

The UK will double its airlifts in Kabul to 12,000 this week. Nearly 6,000 Brits, Afghan staff and their families have now been airlifted out by the RAF, but there are now plans to fly out a further 6,000.

Passengers on board a Royal Air Force C-17 evacuation flight out of Kabul airport ( PA)

Britain says its forces have evacuated more than 5,700 people from Jabul in the last 10 days, although more are coming forward all the time.

On Sunday, British troops were seen searching the thousands of Afghans desperate to leave the country while armed Taliban kept watch. Troops are reportedly relying on jihadi militants to keep peace at Kabul airport as evacuations attempts continue.

NATO estimates around 20 people have been killed during evacuation operations around Kabul Airport.

British paratroopers are trying to manage the chaos at the airport amid fears the evacuation mission could collapse in days after a number of people were killed as they were crushed while trying to escape the Taliban.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the UK will continue to work to repatriate people in Afghanistan once troops are home. He also warned that the events of the past weeks "will have consequences for us all for years to come."

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