Current and former employees of U.S.-based news organizations, U.S.-based aid and development agencies, plus other relief groups that receive U.S. funding are now covered, according to the White House. “This is incredibly hard,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters. “It is hard on so many levels, it’s hard to pick up and leave everything you know (and) it’s hard to get yourself to a place where you can take advantage of what opportunities exist to see to apply for refugee status. And we recognize that this is. Alas, this is the case for millions of people around the world who find themselves in very difficult situations and particularly in Afghanistan now.”

But relief agencies are calling for Biden’s team to go a step further, claiming the widening of refugee status was not enough. Refugee umbrella organization InterAction condemned the move as “unacceptable” suggesting the U.S. would be forcing more families to endanger themselves by crossing Taliban-controlled checkpoints to make them eligible for refugee status.

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“An increase in operational capabilities further elevates the risk of a spill-over of consequences from the armed conflict into South Asia, elevating the threat to South Asian regional security and particularly for Pakistan and India,” Supriya Ravishankar, a South Asia Analyst for Sibylline, told Newsweek.

Ravishankar said the increased presence of the Taliban along Pakistani border cities could impact transportation and logistical trade costs that would fund the Taliban and bolster their military reinforcements.

Indian and Chinese officials worry that the instability along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border could permeate into their countries, increasing vulnerability to attacks and impacting commercial interests.

China has remained engaged with both the Afghan government and the Taliban since NATO and U.S. forces began their withdrawal in Afghanistan. Indian leaders have also met with Afghan and U.S. officials to discuss their concerns over the Taliban’s rise in the area.

“Going forward, it is essential that South Asian countries continue to engage with the Taliban in a way that does not disregard the Taliban’s atrocities while ensuring they are in a better position to secure their national security interests,” Ravishankar said. “While interaction may or may not help in this cause, non-engagement will certainly place countries like India in a more vulnerable position.”

He also said the county is facing an “unprecedented onslaught of terrorism” as Taliban attacks have intensified, according to Al Jazeera.

Local journalists also report that the Taliban has overtaken the city’s state-run television and radio station, which have gone off the air.

The Afghan forces commander General Sami Sadt told residents in Taliban-controlled areas to evacuate.

“Please leave as soon as possible so that we can start our operation,” he said in a message to local media.

“We will not leave the Taliban alive. … I know it’s hard … we do it for your future. Forgive us if you get displaced for few days, please evacuate as soon as possible,” he added.

According to the AP, the message indicates that the Afghan government is planning more airstrikes to target the Taliban.

Reports suggest Mi-8 military transport helicopters and Mi-24 assault gunships will be practising at the Kharb-Maidon training ground - around 20km from the Afghan border.

The U.S. mission joined the E.U.’s 27 nations, the U.K., Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, and NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative to demand an end to the violence.

InterAction, an umbrella organization for scores of international relief and development groups, said:

Newsweek has asked the State Department for a response.

It is a difficult balance for the country, which says it respects Afghan sovereign independence but also calls for it to stay clear of its Xinjiang region, fearing unwanted Islamic extremist influence.

“The Taliban are a pivotal military and political force in Afghanistan and are expected to play an important role in the process of peace, reconciliation, and reconstruction,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said last week.

The U.S. cautiously welcomed the talks, suggesting its comfortability with China holding a greater influence over the region as the American and NATO troops pull out.

Follow Newsweek’s liveblog for all the latest as the world responds to this escalating situation.