'Please Boris, just get me and my kids out': British man with northern accent pleads for help at Kabul airport - as children are LEFT BEHIND by their parents and Taliban threaten 'consequences' if soldiers stay beyond August 31

A British man stuck in Afghanistan has today been filmed waving a UK passport while pleading with Boris Johnson: 'Get me and my kids out of here'.

Speaking with a strong northern accent, the man is seen telling ITV film crews outside a temporary British embassy in Kabul that the army is refusing to let him into the capital's airport for evacuation.

After the short interview, the footage then then cuts to two children who the broadcaster reports have allegedly been left behind in the streets after their parents were allowed into the embassy 'without them'.

Flashing a British passport as he made his desperate plea, the man told ITV: 'I'm a British citizen, my kids are British and we're stuck here, they closed the door on us and they're shooting at us.

'My message for the prime minister is, just get us out of here otherwise my kids are struggling and we're all in a big mess here. The British Army is right behind these fences, they've closed the gate and they're not letting no one in.'

It comes as dozens tried to enter the temporary British embassy today, but were turned away without an explanation while surrounding Taliban fighters fired guns into the air in the shocking scenes.

Some called out Joe Biden and Boris Johnson for abandoning them as the Taliban take hold, with only eight days until the US set its deadline for withdrawing all troops from the country.

Meanwhile, the UK today warned there are 'hours not weeks' left for the Kabul airlift as it scrambles to double numbers to 12,000 - while Boris Johnson pleads with to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

It comes as:

Taliban threatens 'consequences' if airlift deadline extended

The Taliban has said it will 'provoke a reaction' and has threatened 'consequences' if the US or UK do not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and extend the deadline for the withdrawal of troops.

President Joe Biden wants all Americans to have left the country by the end of the month although he admitted on Sunday night that an extension was under discussion, while this morning UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the evacuation effort is 'down to hours now, not weeks'.

Taliban spokesman Dr Suhail Shaheen said the group will not accept an extension to the deadline and warned of retaliation if Western forces extend their 'occupation' since the group dramatically swept to power.

He told Sky News: 'It's a red line. President Biden announced that on 31 August they would withdraw all their military forces. So if they extend it that means they are extending occupation while there is no need for 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.'

Another stranded was Paralympian Zakia Khudadadi who was due to compete in Tokyo in taekwondo and become Afghanistan's first woman to represent the country at the Games.

It comes as Britain, France and Germany all joined pleas for Joe Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan today.

As the desperate evacuation continues, the PM will use a virtual meeting of world leaders tomorrow to push for more time to save people from the clutches of the Taliban - something the US president has so far refused to commit to.

Nearly 6,000 Britons, Afghan staff and their families have now been airlifted out by the RAF - but there are plans to fly out a further 6,000 this week.

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was 'concerned' about the deadline and 'additional time is needed'.

Germany estimated it has 5,000 people still waiting to be taken to safety, with a Foreign Ministry spokesman saying the airbridges should stay open 'as long as the situation on the ground allows'.

However, the Taliban have said any extension would be a 'red line' and warned of 'consequences' - as ministers admit they have a 'vote' on the timetable.

Despite the entreaties from fellow leaders, Mr Biden has been non-committal, saying yesterday he 'hopes not to' extend his current deadline.

He made a pledge to US citizens that 'any American who wants to get home will get home' but pointedly failed to mention his allies.

Mr Biden has set a deadline of August 31 for all Americans to have left the country, but UK military sources said another fortnight was needed.

Asked what he would say if G7 leaders pushed him, Mr Biden said: 'I will tell them we will see what we can do.'

British military commanders are understood to have pencilled in August 25 as the last day they can process refugees, including former British interpreters, under the current plans before the focus shifts to getting about 1,000 British troops and government officials home safely.

Taliban fighters in a vehicle patrol the streets of Kabul on August 23, 2021 as in the capital after their takeover of Afghanistan

Taliban check vehicles at a check point in Kandahar, Afghansitan, 22 August 2021. The Afghan interim council, formed to assist in the power transfer following President Ashraf Ghani's escape, has met several Taliban leaders to discuss issues related to control and security during the transition process

A Taliban fighter checks an Afghan citizens details at a check point in the area of Kandahar in Afghanistan today

Members of the UK Armed Forces continue to take part in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Kabul airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan

Around 900 British soldiers are currently in Kabul supporting the rescue mission. But they will likely have to pull out if the US withdraws its remaining 6,000 troops - which it is expected to do by August 31

Firefight at Kabul airport: One Afghan soldier is killed and three wounded in battle between gunmen and US and German forces

A firefight has broken out between unidentified gunmen, Western security forces and Afghan guards at Kabul airport.

One Afghan guard was killed and three others were injured in the battle, which also involved US and German forces, the German military said on Twitter.

The report did not specifying whether the dead Afghan was one of the Taliban fighters deployed to guard the airport.

The airport has been a scene of chaos since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital on August 15 as UK and international forces try to evacuate citizens and vulnerable Afghans.

It could mean the last British evacuation flight may have to leave as soon as tomorrow or Wednesday to allow soldiers enough time to withdraw.

Meanwhile, The Taliban has said it will 'provoke a reaction' and has threatened 'consequences' if the US or UK do not leave Afghanistan by August 31 and extend the deadline for the withdrawal of troops.

'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.'

Meanwhile, tonight a firefight has broken out between unidentified gunmen, Western security forces and Afghan guards at Kabul airport.

One Afghan guard was killed and three others were injured in the battle, which also involved US and German forces, the German military said on Twitter.

The report did not specifying whether the dead Afghan was one of the Taliban fighters deployed to guard the airport.

The airport has been a scene of chaos since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital on August 15 as UK and international forces try to evacuate citizens and vulnerable Afghans.

Taliban are 'flogging' people in the streets for wearing western clothing as the price of burqas in Kabul doubles

Taliban fighters are reportedly flogging Afghan civilians in the streets for wearing 'westernised' clothing such as jeans as they cement their power in Afghanistan.

Several young Afghans posted on social media they had been beaten and whipped by members of the Taliban for wearing jeans after being accused of disrespecting Islam.

One social media post says the boys were 'walking with friends in Kabul,' when they were confronted by Taliban soldiers.

Two of their friends escaped, the youth said, but the others were held at gunpoint as they were beaten and whipped in the street.

A Taliban official told local newspaper Etilaatroz that the movement was still deciding on the dress code for men, but reports suggest the Taliban is unwilling to allow 'westernised' clothing that deviates from traditional 'Afghan dress'.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph reported that sales of burqas have surged in Afghanistan amid a two-fold increase in prices.

There are multiple reports of Taliban fighters whipping and beating Afghan civilians, as well as targeting individuals for wearing 'westernised' dress

Footage also shows the Taliban confiscating Afghan flags from civilians and beating them with sticks and rifle butts

Etilaatroz newspaper also reported over the weekend that one of its journalists had also been beaten for not wearing 'Afghan clothes' such as full-body gowns, according to a report in the Telegraph.

Under the Taliban's previous rule in the late 90s, men had to wear traditional robes while girls were forced to wear a burqa from the age of eight.

Yet photos and videos out of Afghanistan have depicted younger Taliban fighters adopting accessories such as sunglasses, baseball caps and trainers or combat boots despite their crackdown on western influence in the country.

'We need more time': Britain, France and Germany urge Biden to extend August 31 deadline for Kabul troop withdrawal as UK bids to airlift ANOTHER 6,000 Britons and Afghan allies to safety

Britain, France and Germany all joined pleas for Joe Biden to delay the US withdrawal from Afghanistan today.

Nearly 6,000 Britons, Afghan staff and their families have now been airlifted out by the RAF - but there are plans to fly out a further 6,000 this week.

French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was 'concerned' about the deadline and 'additional time is needed'. Germany estimated it has 5,000 people still waiting to be taken to safety, with a Foreign Ministry spokesman saying the airbridges should stay open 'as long as the situation on the ground allows'.

However, the Taliban have said any extension would be a 'red line' and warned of 'consequences' - as ministers admit they have a 'vote' on the timetable.

Despite the entreaties from fellow leaders, Mr Biden has been non-committal, saying yesterday he 'hopes not to' extend his current deadline. He made a pledge to US citizens that 'any American who wants to get home will get home' but pointedly failed to mention his allies.

It came as dramatic pictures emerged of Taliban fighters and British troops, once sworn enemies, working just yards apart at Kabul airport.

Downing Street insiders said Mr Johnson will ask the US President at the G7 meeting not to leave Western allies in the lurch.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace have also been in contact with their opposite numbers in Washington on the issue.

Mr Biden has set a deadline of August 31 for all Americans to have left the country, but UK military sources said another fortnight was needed.

Asked what he would say if G7 leaders pushed him, Mr Biden said: 'I will tell them we will see what we can do.'

It could mean the last British evacuation flight may have to leave as soon as tomorrow or Wednesday to allow soldiers enough time to withdraw.

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Mr Blair told Sky News on Sunday: 'I've enormous respect for Joe Biden, I've known him for many years - he is a good man and he's a decent man. But on the other hand ... I think it is important to realise this was not something we needed to do.

'I understand the political pressure but our footprint had really been reduced to a much smaller level, and by the end of 2019 we were in a situation whereby we could have held firm for some considerable time and helped the Afghan people through the next stages of their progress.'

Mr Blair said there had been 'a lot of gains' made in the past two decades and stressed that the deaths of UK armed forces personnel were 'not in vain'.

He added: 'Our troops were fantastic in Afghanistan, and a lot of them made the ultimate sacrifice, a lot of them were injured. And it's really important that they know that this wasn't a hopeless endeavour, and it wasn't a bad cause.

'What I'd say to them is the sacrifice was not in vain, that those 20 years matter. What we achieved in Afghanistan matters today. I think it's really important that people realise this, the story of Afghanistan, the story of the Taliban takeover, it's not over. It's tragic what's happened, I think it's unnecessary, I think we've made a serious mistake in doing this in this way, but it isn't over yet.'

In his article, Mr Blair urged for there to be 'no repetition of arbitrary deadlines' - a reference to Washington's Doha agreement with the Taliban, committing to vacate Afghanistan in time for the 9/11 anniversary - in the rescue mission.

'We must evacuate and give sanctuary to those to whom we have responsibility - those Afghans who helped us and stood by us and have a right to demand we stand by them,' said the former Labour Party leader.

'There must be no repetition of arbitrary deadlines. We have a moral obligation to keep at it until all those who need to be are evacuated. And we should do so not grudgingly but out of a deep sense of humanity and responsibility.'

Mr Blair defended his own decision making in 2001 when he worked with former US president George Bush and NATO allies to avenge the New York World Trade Centre attack. After the Taliban refused to evict al Qaeda, the terror group that masterminded the hijacking of the planes in 2001, Mr Blair said Western allies, who feared worse attacks were to come, felt there was 'no safer alternative' than to strike.

He continued: 'There is no doubt that in the years that followed we made mistakes, some serious. But the reaction to our mistakes have been unfortunately further mistakes.

'Today we are in a mood which seems to regard the bringing of democracy as a utopian delusion and intervention virtually of any sort as a fool's errand. The world is now uncertain of where the West stands because it is so obvious that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in this way was driven not by grand strategy but by politics.

'We didn't need to do it. We chose to do it.

'We did it in obedience to an imbecilic political slogan about ending 'the forever wars', as if our engagement in 2021 was remotely comparable to our commitment 20 or even 10 years ago, in circumstances in which troop numbers had declined to a minimum and no allied soldier had lost their life in combat for 18 months.'

The former Middle East envoy said that, although 'imperfect', the 'real gains over the past 20 years' were likely to be lost following the Taliban victory, including advances in living standards, education particularly of girls, and other freedoms.

He called for the UK, in its role as president of the G7 this year, to help coordinate an international response to 'hold the new regime to account'.

The UK Government has been working diplomatically to ensure there is no unilateral recognition of a Taliban government in Afghanistan, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab refusing to rule out applying sanctions if the militants renege on their promise to be more inclusive, especially in their attitudes towards women, than when last in control.

Mr Blair said: 'We need to draw up a list of incentives, sanctions, actions we can take including to protect the civilian population so the Taliban understand their actions will have consequences. This is urgent. The disarray of the past weeks needs to be replaced by something resembling coherence and with a plan that is credible and realistic.'

The Prime Minister's feelings about America's withdrawal from Afghanistan have been variously described by sources as 'furious', 'a betrayal' and 'let down'.

Downing Street dismisses the claims - it is in neither country's interests to stoke tensions when the future of Afghanistan hangs in the balance - but there is little question that the UK has been left exposed by the speed of Washington's pull-out.

No 10 also denies claims that the Prime Minister was disappointed by Mr Biden's victory in the Presidential elections and had declared that it would have been 'better' if Mr Trump had won a second term, and say it is 'categorically untrue' that Mr Johnson employs the President's derogatory nickname of Sleepy Joe during jocular conversations.

However, one minister denounced US isolationism and warned the Government would have to 'revisit' the recent review on defence and foreign policy because the US was no longer a reliable ally.

They told the Sunday Times: 'America has just signalled to the world that they are not that keen on playing a global role. The implications of that are absolutely huge. We need to get the integrated review out and reread it. We are going to have to do a hard-nosed revisit on all our assumptions and policies.

Pakistan's soldiers check the documents of Afghan and Pakistani nationals for crossing into Afghanistan at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing point in Chaman

People gather outside the Pakistani embassy, to obtain a visa. after Taliban took over in Kabul

'The US had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the First World War. They turned up late for the Second World War and now they are cutting and running in Afghanistan.'

Speaking to Sky News today, Mr Blair said 'the only people really cheering this decision are the people hostile to Western interests' - listing among them the Chinese and Russian regimes.

'We've got to realise we were in a situation where... we could've managed the situation,' he said. 'The problem with what's happened now is that it's not just about the Afghan people and our obligation to them... it's about us and our security.

'Because you've now got this group back in charge of Afghanistan. They will give protection and succour to al Qaeda, you've got ISIS (Islamic State) already in the country trying to operate at the same time. You look round the world and the only people really cheering this decision are the people hostile to Western interests.'

Mr Blair said the UK and its G7 allies will need to come up with a 'strategy' to deal with the Taliban regime to make sure 'we don't end up with a security threat'.

He added: 'We should be putting together the leading countries who are part of this coalition in the first place and who have supported Afghanistan in the last 20 years and we need to work out what our strategy and tactics are going to be in respect of the Taliban government.

'We need to be drawing up a list of incentives and sanctions and other things we can do in order to use the leverage we have, which is not insignificant. The Taliban will find that governing is a lot harder than they thought. The population of Afghanistan is different.

'There's going to be a lot that we can still do but it's important that we mobilise now after the disarray frankly of the last few weeks, that we mobilise as the leading countries and make it clear that we still understand we have an obligation in our own interests to try and resolve this situation and to put as much pressure on the government in Afghanistan as possible to make sure that we don't end up either with a security threat in play for us or with the Afghan people losing the gains they've made over the last 20 years.'

Across Whitehall and in British embassies around the world, officials and diplomats are adjusting to the fact that Mr Biden has adopted an America First policy every bit as isolationist as his predecessor's.

There are also whispered concerns that the 78-year-old might be, in the words of one Government source, 'a bit doolally' - unable to exert full executive grip on the White House and with a world view forged decades ago and out of step with the demands of leadership in the 2020s.

The Times claimed yesterday that Mr Johnson finds Mr Biden 'lightweight and inward-looking'.

Observers of the two men's relationship believe that there is a degree of wariness, with Mr Biden regarding Mr Johnson as a 'mini-Trump' because of his personality-driven style of politics and the pair talking far less frequently than Mr Johnson and Mr Trump did.

There are also policy differences, with Washington reluctant to accede to the UK's demand to ramp up spending on 'green' policies ahead of the COP26 climate change summit being hosted by the UK in November.

Of particular irritation in London during the Afghan endgame has been the fact that British military commanders have been cut out of discussions between the US and the Taliban.

But a No 10 source said yesterday that Mr Johnson had not expressed any anger over the US withdrawal, and said the two men had enjoyed a 'warm and constructive' phone conversation on Tuesday evening.

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'These claims are categorically untrue. The Prime Minister has not criticised President Biden, and they have a very strong working relationship.

The President's first call to a leader outside of North America after his election win was to the Prime Minister.

They have worked together on a range of issues, including at the recent G7, where they secured an additional one billion Covid vaccine doses for developing countries, and signed the Carbis Bay Declaration to improve global health co-operation and prevent future pandemics'.

President Biden cancelled plans to spend the weekend at his home in Delaware. Instead he is meeting his national security team 'to hear intelligence, security and diplomatic updates on the evolving situation in Afghanistan,' the White House said.

Lord Ricketts, who served as the Government's first national security adviser from 2010 to 2012 under former prime minister David Cameron, said the UK will need to 'rethink' its foreign policy stance following the United States' handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

Speaking to Times Radio, he said: 'It has been a humiliating period for the UK. I'm afraid we've learnt that (US President) Joe Biden has put US politics ahead of NATO alliance solidarity and Britain hasn't counted for much in that decision, if anything at all.

'The hard fact is we are going to need to continue to work with the Americans in all sorts of areas and this has been a difficult experience, but we need to bring the Americans back to working with their allies, taking account of our views.

'But we can't somehow invent a foreign policy without the Americans so we've got to take a deep breath and do some frank talking to Joe Biden and then get back to work with him.'

The former chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee continued: 'We need to rethink a lot of that rhetoric in the integrated review published by the Government a few months ago about Britain as an independent sovereign operator, turning the dial on international crises.

'We have shown actually that we are pretty impotent in a situation where the Americans take a decision - we have little choice but to follow.'

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