The US will start evacuating its Afghan interpreters who assisted their troops during almost 20 years of conflict due to concerns for their safety, the White House said yesterday. Operation Allies Refuge is set to begin next week, and reports say about 2,500 will be included. They will be housed in military facilities in the US and overseas while their visas are processed, but getting them out of Afghanistan ASAP is important as the Taliban (aka the fighters the US were up against) gains ground. Reports say government officials have negotiated an “indefinite ceasefire” with the Taliban, but that’s something the Islamist group has denied. As for Afghans employed by Aussie forces, PM Scott Morrison has said he “absolutely agrees” with former leader John Howard’s argument that Oz has a “moral obligation” to help them. But reports overnight say the Morrison government won’t join the US evacuation efforts (paywall) and had “no plan” to mount a similar effort to evacuate Afghans who had supported Aussie soldiers and diplomats. #SquizShortcuts