UK and US send troops to aid evacuation from Afghanistan as Taliban advance

Pentagon aims to send in 3,000 soldiers to aid reduction' of nationals and Afghans with visas

The US and UK have scrambled reinforcements to Kabul to help evacuate their diplomats, soldiers and citizens as well as thousands of Afghans who have worked with them, as the Taliban advance towards the capital.

The Pentagon announced it would send three battalions, about 3,000 soldiers, to Kabul's international airport within 24 to 48 hours of the announcement on Thursday. The defence department spokesman, John Kirby, said the reinforcements would help the safe and orderly reduction" of US nationals and Afghans who worked with the Americans and consequently had been granted special immigrant visas.