It follows scenes at Kabul international airport where thousands of Afghans,trying to flee the country,chased and even clung onto the sides of US military planes as they moved down the runway.

Some Afghans - apparently stowed away in the landing gear - plunged to their deaths as the planes took flight. Seven deaths were reported on Monday.

The US has been criticised for the handling of its pullout of troops from Afghanistan after the militant and theocratic Taliban swept to power faster than Washington anticipated.