WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Thousands of Afghans who may be targets of Taleban violence due to US affiliations but are ineligible for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) will have the opportunity to resettle as refugees in the United States, the State Department said on Monday (Aug 2).

Reuters exclusively reported on plans to set up the "Priority Two" refugee programme, covering Afghans who worked for US-funded projects and for US-based non-government bodies and media outlets, earlier on Monday.

"In light of increased levels of Taleban violence, the US government is working to provide certain Afghans, including those who worked with the United States, the opportunity for refugee resettlement to the United States," the State Department said in the announcement.

"This designation expands the opportunity to permanently resettle in the United States to many thousands of Afghans and their immediate family members who may be at risk."

Those who worked as employees of contractors, locally employed staff and interpreters and translators for the US government or armed forces are eligible for the new designation, as well as Afghans employed by a US-based media organisation or non-governmental organisation, the State Department said.

The programme comes as fighting surges in Afghanistan ahead of the formal completion of the US troop withdrawal at the end of this month, with the Taleban pushing to capture key provincial capitals.

Mr Biden has faced pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups to aid Afghans at risk of Taleban retaliation because of their association with the US during the 20-year US war.

About 200 SIV applicants, whose visas are in the final stages of processing, and family members flew into the US last week at the start of an evacuation effort dubbed "Operation Allies Refuge" that could include as many as 50,000 people or more.

They were taken to stay at a military base in Virginia to complete their final formalities before being resettled around the country.