(ANSA) - WASHINGTON, AUGUST 24 - "There has been no change in the deadline of the mission in Afghanistan.
We believe that the date of August 31 can be respected": Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
"I think we have the capabilities to meet the August 31st date. On the evacuation front we continue to make progress, several thousand Americans have already been evacuated to the US and we will make more bases available to Afghan refugees," Kirby said.
"The goal is to take away 20,000 people by the end of the week", the spokesman explained, reiterating that the USA "will take away all the Americans who want to leave Afghanistan". (HANDLE).