European countries called on Tuesday for access to the Kabul airport to be extended for "as long as necessary". European Council President Charles Michel told reporters after a virtual meeting of G7 leaders that EU member states raised several concerns with the US, including "the need to secure the airport, as long as necessary, to complete the (evacuation) operations". This comes hours after the Taliban reiterated that they would not allow any extension to the Aug. 31 withdrawal date. A spokesman for the group told reporters that there would be "no extensions" to the Aug. 31 deadline set by the US for the withdrawal of its troops. The US military currently controls Kabul airport from which evacuation flights are taking place. The leaders of the G7 countries released a joint statement after meeting to discuss the Afghanistan situation. In it, they say they "express our grave concern about the situation in Afghanistan and call for calm and restraint to ensure the safety and security of vulnerable Afghan and international citizens, and the prevention of a humanitarian crisis." They add they will continue to fight terrorism in the country, and insist any future Afghan government must adhere to its responsibilities on preventing terrorism, and upholding human rights. "Our immediate priority is to ensure the safe evacuation of our citizens and those Afghans who have partnered with us and assisted our efforts over the past twenty years, and to ensure continuing safe passage out of Afghanistan," the statement adds. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who hosted the G7 meeting, said the G7 had agreed a "road map for the way in which we"re going to engage with the Taliban". Meanwhile, the United Nations has received “harrowing and credible reports” of human rights abuses by the Taliban in Afghanistan, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday.