US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul has subpoenaed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to testify on the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, Fox News reports.
According to the TV channel, the subpoena was issued because Blinken allegedly refused to appear before the committee earlier. Blinken must appear before the committee on September 19 or face contempt of Congress, the lawmakers said.
The State Department disagreed with the date, saying Blinken was busy and offered alternatives.
On the evening of August 31, 2021, the US military left Kabul airport, ending nearly 20 years of US military presence in Afghanistan. In early September of the same year, the composition of the Afghan interim government was announced, headed by Mohammad Hasan Akhundwho held the position of Foreign Minister during the first Taliban reign* and has been under UN sanctions since 2001.
*Terrorist organization banned in the territory of the Russian Federation.
