US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan provided the US with an opportunity to focus on other international challenges such as China and Russia.

Speaking in the US House of Representatives, Blinken said that the agreement regarding the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan was made during the Trump administration.

This session was part of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's investigation into the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Responding to criticism that the withdrawal undermined the US's credibility as a reliable ally, Blinken stated: " In 2008, we had between Afghanistan and Iraq about 200,000 forces deployed in 2008. Russia invaded Georgia. In 2014, we still had about 12,000 forces in Afghanistan. You'll recall what else happened in 2014. Russia for the first time invaded Ukraine. Because we were able to refocus our time, our resources, our efforts, we were able to build this coalition of more than 50 countries that has stood up to Russia's aggression. And I must say, the chairman has done a remarkable job over these last three years." 

Meanwhile, some representatives at the session criticized how the US withdrawal from Afghanistan was handled. Others expressed support for the withdrawal of US forces.

Michael McCaul and several other Republican lawmakers described Blinken and the Biden administration as "unprepared" and "ineffective" regarding the withdrawal.

"As America's chief diplomat, you delegated this responsibility to me, and as the Taliban surrendered to Kabul, was surrendered to the Taliban on August 14, 2021, you, sir, were vacationing in East Hampton, New York," said Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"The Biden administration conducted a thorough policy review, acknowledged that we would again be at war with the Taliban if they abandoned the Doha deal,” said another representative, Gregory Meeks.

Some members of the House also criticized US aid to Afghanistan.

"Taliban has been benefiting from US cash shipments since the Afghan Central Bank. This is American funds, and that sanctioned terrorists ... diverting US aid meant for the Afghan people,” said Tim Burchett, another member of the House.

The US State Department said that Blinken has testified 14 times so far about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, including four times before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. However, Michael McCaul stated during Wednesday's session that under his chairmanship, Blinken has not testified even once before the committee.