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Updated June 2nd, 2021 at 13:53 IST

Pentagon weighing how to help Afghans who aided US

Pentagon weighing how to help Afghans who aided US

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One day after Britain said it will make it easier for Afghans who worked with British troops to settle in the U.K. amid rising fears for their safety, the Pentagon said it is working with other U.S. agencies to "come up with the best possible solutions."

"Everybody has a sense of urgency," said Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby.

"We know we have a special obligation to these individuals. We know the risks that they took on our behalf and are still taking on our behalf," Kirby said.

"And we're going to work inside an interagency process to meet those obligations."

More than 1,400 Afghan interpreters and their relatives have already moved to Britain under a resettlement scheme. The government says about 3,000 more are expected to come under new rules which broaden eligibility and make it easier for people to bring their families with them.

The U.S is wrapping up its longest war by withdrawing the last of its 2,500 - 3,500 troops along with 7,000 allied NATO forces.

Kirby also looked ahead to a meeting later in the week between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he's prepared to risk tension with the U.S. if that is what it takes to neutralize Iran's nuclear capabilities.

Netanyahu said Israel's biggest threat remains the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran. He said Israel is prepared to prevent that from happening even if the United States and other nations succeed in reinstating the 2015 Iran nuclear accord.

"I think it's safe to expect that among the things they will talk about are regional security issues and clearly we have every expectation that Iran and their malign behavior in the region will certainly come up," Kirby said.

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Published June 2nd, 2021 at 13:52 IST

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