The US House of Representatives submitted a subpoena to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken regarding documents related to withdrawal from Afghanistan in August of the year before last 2021, according to what the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McCaul, announced today (Tuesday). McCall had launched an investigation into the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Joe Biden and the events in the country since then.
Republicans and Democrats believe that there is no complete account of the chaotic operation that killed 13 US soldiers at the airport in the capital, Kabul.
McCaul, who is a Republican, has given the State Department until Monday to release the documents.
He said in a statement: "Unfortunately, Secretary of State Blinken refused to provide the telegram and his response to the telegram, which forced me to issue the first subpoena in my capacity as chairman of the committee." He added that the summons was delivered this morning (Tuesday).
More than 20 US diplomats in Afghanistan sent a secret telegram through one of the channels to warn Blinken in July 2021 of the possibility of Kabul falling into the hands of the Taliban with the withdrawal of US forces, according to what was reported by the Wall Street Journal 2021.
Blinken said during last week's session that the ministry had already disclosed the information and was working to provide more, but that some fine details could only be revealed to senior officials in a move aimed at protecting the identity of those who expressed their opposition.
In response to a question requesting comment on the summons, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed to the statements of its spokesperson, Vedant Patil, during a press briefing yesterday. Patel said the ministry is ready to make available the relevant information in the cable through testimonials or other mechanisms.
Okaz (Washington, Jeddah) @OKAZ_ONLINE