The president is the target of intense criticism for the evacuation efforts, which various sources describe as chaotic.

Biden will speak after noon in Washington about his government’s efforts to evacuate US and Afghans following the occupation of Kabul by Taliban rebels.

In recent days, the United States has sent troops and diplomatic reinforcements to the Kabul airport to speed up the processing of visas for Afghans.

Meanwhile, according to The Hill newspaper, U.S. commanders negotiate daily with their Taliban counterparts – the former insurgents they fought for nearly two decades – to ensure that evacuees can reach the airport.

On Thursday, John R. Bass, former ambassador to Afghanistan, arrived in Kabul with a group of diplomats to expedite visa processing. The diplomats are also headed to Qatar and Kuwait, where U.S. military bases will house the refugees and returnees before they are sent to another country, the newspaper reported.

pgh/abo/mem/lb