Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to provide testimony on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The session, held on Capitol Hill, included discussions of the challenges, decisions, and lessons learned during and after the withdrawal.
Secretary Blinken’s Opening Remarks
In his opening statement, Secretary Blinken expressed appreciation for the collaboration with members of the committee over the past four years, acknowledging areas of agreement and disagreement. He paid tribute to the 2,461 U.S. servicemembers, as well as State Department and USAID employees, who lost their lives over two decades of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. Special recognition was given to the 13 servicemembers killed at Abbey Gate during the evacuation.
Secretary Blinken emphasized the administration’s efforts during the withdrawal, stating that despite unexpected challenges, the operation successfully evacuated approximately 120,000 individuals, including Americans, Afghans, and citizens of allied nations, within two weeks—the largest airlift in U.S. history.
Context and Challenges
Secretary Blinken highlighted the conditions inherited by the Biden administration, including the 2020 Doha Agreement made by the previous administration. Under this agreement, U.S. troop levels were reduced to 2,500, and 5,000 Taliban prisoners were released. The Taliban, in turn, agreed to cease attacks on U.S. forces and engage in intra-Afghan negotiations. By January 2021, the Taliban had gained significant territorial control.
Faced with the choice of escalating the conflict or withdrawing, President Biden chose to end the war, a decision Secretary Blinken defended as necessary to prevent further U.S. military entanglement and loss of life.
After-Action Review and Reforms
Secretary Blinken acknowledged the rapid collapse of the Afghan government and security forces, which was not anticipated in the most pessimistic assessments. In response, the State Department conducted an after-action review led by retired Ambassador Dan Smith. This review resulted in more than 40 initiatives to improve crisis response and coordination, some of which have already been applied in recent emergencies in Sudan, Israel, and Lebanon.
Addressing Misconceptions
Secretary Blinken addressed several criticisms and misconceptions:
- Terrorism Threats: He asserted that al-Qaida has not regrouped in Afghanistan, citing the successful U.S. strike on al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in 2022.
- Allied Trust: Blinken argued that U.S. alliances remain robust, as evidenced by coordinated efforts in Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific.
- Evacuation Efforts: He stated that every U.S. citizen who wished to leave Afghanistan during the evacuation has had the opportunity to do so.
The Future of Afghanistan
Secretary Blinken acknowledged the hardships faced by the Afghan people, particularly women and girls, under Taliban rule. However, he expressed hope that the experiences and aspirations of a new generation of Afghans, empowered by two decades of international engagement, could eventually lead to positive change.
In closing, Secretary Blinken reiterated the administration’s commitment to addressing unresolved issues and learning from the withdrawal to ensure more effective responses in future crises.