WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting a briefing from the State Department on its strategy to protect American citizens and Afghan allies from the Taliban and ISIS-K, and its strategy and timeline for evacuating any individuals who are still unable to leave the country.

“The United States efforts to evacuate American citizens, LPRs, SIV holders, and Afghan allies ahead of the withdrawal from Afghanistan have been abysmal. The Administration’s announcement on April 14 that the United States would fully withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11 sparked confusion and panic for those in Afghanistan, particularly American citizens,” wrote Congressman Pappas.

“My office was contacted multiple times by dozens of Americans, LPRs, SIV holders, and Afghan allies, representing 124 people. Throughout this two-week period, those individuals, as well as my constituent caseworkers, were subject to ever-changing and unclear guidance from the State Department, Department of Defense, and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, underwhelming and incomplete briefings from department staff, contradictory information as to when and where it was safe to approach HKIA, and confusion over the United States day-to-day capabilities to fully complete its evacuation mission. My staff were in contact with multiple veterans that were seeking help evacuating their families and allied Afghan interpreters who had saved their lives,” continued the Congressman. “Despite the United States and 98 other countries’ recent statement stating they remain committed to evacuating those left behind in Afghanistan based on ‘assurances’ they’ve received from the Taliban, it’s simply unacceptable to place the lives of American citizens in the hands of the Taliban – a terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of thousands of U.S. servicemembers.”

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