U.S. to relocate Afghan translators out of Afghanistan: White House

A man walks along a road outside Bagram Air Base, after all US and NATO troops left, some 70 Km north of Kabul on July 2, 2021. /CFP

Translators and other Afghanis who assisted American forces during the war will be relocated to foreign countries while their U.S. visa applications are processed, the White House said on Friday, declining to give further details.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki also told reporters that the drawdown of U.S. forces from Afghanistan was expected to be completed by the end of August.

Also on Friday, President Joe Biden said the withdrawal of U.S. troops is "on track," but they will not leave the country in the next few days.

Biden in April ordered all U.S. forces to leave Afghanistan before September 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that drew the United States into its longest war.

His latest remarks came after American troops had left a major military base in Afghanistan.

A spokesperson for the Afghan Defense Ministry confirmed that all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan had evacuated the

Bagram

Airfield near Kabul on Friday, handing over the largest coalition base to Afghan government troops.

But the security situation in the war-torn country has deteriorated as Taliban militants continue heavy fighting against government forces and have gained ground since the drawdown of U.S. troops began on May 1.

(With input from agencies)