Poland halts Afghan evacuations as airlift winds down

Decision taken in consultation with allies after Biden says US sticking to 31 August withdrawal deadline

Poland has ended its involvement in airlift evacuations from Afghanistan amid growing signs that the brief and chaotic air bridge that has rescued tens of thousands of people may be rapidly coming to an end.

With both the US and Taliban insisting that the deadline for withdrawal of foreign forces remains 31 August – less than a week away – Marcin Przydacz, a deputy prime minister, said the group it evacuated to Uzebekistan on Wednesday would be the last.