Panel expands probe into US exit from Afghanistan

KABUL (Pajhwok): The House Foreign Affairs Committee has expanded its investigation into America’s chaotic pullout from Afghanistan, a media report said on Sunday.

The powerful congressional panel had contacted three senior military officers involved in evacuating tens of thousands of individuals from Kabul in August 2021, when the IEA returned to power, an influential US newspaper reported.

The Washington Post said Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, Navy Rear Adm. Peter Vasely and Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Farrell Sullivan could be asked to testify before the committee.

Vasely and Sullivan have already voiced their disappointment with the Biden administration's management of the withdrawal process.

Department of Defense spokesman James Adams said the two military officials had shared with lawmakers their "personal views and perspectives" regarding the pullout. However, he was unaware of further requests for testimony.

The panel was expected to complete its investigation by now but Republicans subpoenaed Secretary of State Antony Blinken and are seeking to grill White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

But a committee aide revealed to the newspaper investigators were looking at their responses, and they could be called in for further testimony.

For their part, Democrats on the panel claim the investigation is one-sided and does not explore how Trump's negotiations and deal with the Taliban in February 2020, led to the collapse of of the Ashraf Ghani administration.

PAN Monitor/mud