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Downing Street has acknowledged that the Taliban would have to be involved in any discussions on extending the 31 August deadline for the pull-out of international troops from Afghanistan, after a spokesman for the militant group warned of “consequences” if evacuation operations continue beyond the end of the month.

Speaking to Sky News in Qatar, Dr Suhail Shaheen described the end-of-August date for the final withdrawal of US forces as a “red line” and said there was “no need” for any foreign military presence after that date