RACE AGAINST TIME:Britain in 48-hour rescue battle

The embattled US President snubbed pleas by Boris Johnson and other G7 leaders to keep troops on the ground past August 31 – despite warnings it will cost lives.

Just hours earlier the Taliban had darkly warned they will bar Afghans from fleeing the country, saying: “The road to Kabul is closed.”

British defence chiefs are believed to be planning to end civilian rescue flights tomorrow or Friday so there is enough time to get UK forces out before America cuts and runs.

Last night, the PM insisted Britain will keep airlifting Afghans out “until the last moment that we can”.

And he revealed the West is demanding “safe passage” for fleeing Afghans as its price for recognising the Taliban.