WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) issued the following statement after the last U.S. troops in Afghanistan flew out of Kabul, ending its 20-year involvement in the country:

“San Diego has one of the largest populations of post-9/11 veterans in the country – many served bravely in Afghanistan over the last two decades. These brave men and women have my deepest gratitude for their dedication and determination to keep our nation safe. Their sacrifice made a difference in thwarting ISIS and Al-Qaeda, and we are here to support them and their families as this war comes to an end. 

“My thoughts today are also with the Gold Star families whose loved ones never made it back home. We owe them a debt we can never repay and will forever honor the loved ones they lost.

“Only time will allow us to look back at our 20 years and the final days in Afghanistan and determine what we could have done better. We must continue to work with our allies, like-minded partners, and the rest of the international community to bring home our citizens, evacuate vulnerable Afghans, mitigate the Taliban’s worst behavior, and protect America’s enduring security interests in Afghanistan.

“The White House has assured the country that there will continue to be diplomatic arrangements to get those left behind to safety. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the Biden administration to ensure that happens and to protect our nation from international terror.”