US President Joe Biden is to make a statement about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan this evening.

In a tweet, Biden said: “I will be addressing the nation on Afghanistan at 3.45pm ET today.” 

His statement will be made at 8.45pm UK time.

Biden has come under pressure for pulling US troops out of Afghanistan, for failing to implement an efffective exit strategy for underestimating the strength of the Taliban.

He will be speaking one day after Taliban forces entered Kabul and as frantic evacuation efforts continue at the city’s airport, with desperate Afghans trying to board planes leaving the country.

The National:

Aerial view of Afgans gathered at Kabul airport in desperate bid to leave.

Earlier today, Afghanistan's representative told the United Nations Security Council said the fate of the county's people “hangs in the balance”.

Speaking at an emergency meeting on Ghulam M Isaczai said: “Today I’m speaking on behalf of millions of people in Afghanistan, whose fate hangs in the balance and are faced with an extremely uncertain future.

“I’m speaking for millions of Afghan girls and women who are about to lose their freedom to go to school, to work, and to participate in the political, economic, and social life of the country.

“I’m speaking for thousands of human rights defenders, journalists, academics, civil servants and former security personnel whose lives are at risk for defending human rights and democracy.

“I’m speaking for thousands of internally displaced people who are desperately in need of shelter, food and protection in Kabul and other places.”

He said: “We’re extremely concerned about Taliban’s not honouring the promises and commitments made in their statements at Doha, and other international fora.

“We’ve witnessed time and again how Taliban have broken their promises and commitments in the past. We have seen gruesome images of Taliban mass executions of military personnel and target killings of civilians in Kandahar and other big cities.

“We cannot allow this to happen in Kabul, which has been the last refuge for many people escaping violence and Taliban’s revenge attacks.”

Isaczai called on the UN to put pressure on the Taliban “to prevent further violence, prevent Afghanistan descending into a civil war and becoming a pariah state”.

He added: “Kabul residents are living in absolute fear right now.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has been urged to use its Humanitarian Emergency Fund to aid Afghans fleeing the Taliban.

The Humanitarian Emergency Fund was established in 2016 to provide effective assistance to reduce the threat to life and wellbeing in emergency situations.

In a letter to External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson, Scottish Greens international development spokesperson Maggie Chapman and external affairs spokesperson Ross Greer call for government to “consider how emergency funding could be deployed to assist the people of Afghanistan and those who have been forced to flee.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday the Scottish Government stood ready to do help and accept Afghans who wish to seek refuge.

Chapman said: “The pictures and stories coming out of Afghanistan are heart-breaking. We must open our hearts and our doors to those who need safety, and the Scottish Greens endorse the First Minister’s call for the UK Government should accept more refugees.

“It’s clear the Scottish Government must do all it can to help these people who are fleeing for their lives, so while immigration is reserved, the Scottish Government could utilise its Humanitarian Emergency Fund. It is hard to envisage a circumstance more sadly fitting of its criteria.”

In her letter Chapman said she was writing about the plight of those Afghans seeking refuge outside of the country. 

"The First Minister’s statement that the Scottish Government stands ready to do all it can to support those in peril is welcome and we strongly endorse her calls on the UK Government to accept a greater number of Afghans who wish to seek refuge here," she said.

"However, we believe there is one action which can be taken by the Scottish Government without the need to wait for a change of UK policy. 

"The Humanitarian Emergency Fund has played an important role in disaster relief since its inception in 2016 and it is hard to envisage a circumstance more sadly fitting of its criteria. Therefore, we propose that you ask the HEF panel to immediately convene, to consider how emergency funding could be deployed to assist the people of Afghanistan and those who have been forced to flee."

She added: "Not only would this funding allow partner organisations to continue and expand their life-saving work at this critical moment, it would provide a strong signal to the many thousands of people across Scotland who want to help but are not currently sure how, or who they should donate to."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We call on all involved to ensure humanitarian access for those in need in Afghanistan, and to avoid further violence.  We are deeply concerned about the risks posed to civilian lives.

“We urgently call on the UK Government and international community to consider urgently how civilians - especially women, girls and those seeking refuge - can be protected. We are in discussions with our humanitarian partners about what more can be done to support those in need.

“As we did with refugees from Syria, the Scottish Government is willing to play our full part and do all we can to help those in peril.”