Washington, D.C. -Today, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, announced that he will hold a hearing to examine the Trump Administration’s strategy in Afghanistan with Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad upon his return from Doha, Qatar.
Chairman Lynch issued this statement:
“I am grateful to U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad for agreeing to testify before the Subcommittee on National Security about the United States’ negotiations with the Taliban and the Government of Afghanistan. I look forward to examining the Trump Administration’s strategy, including potential impacts for Afghan women and U.S. security interests in the region. After nearly two-decades of conflict, the American people deserve to hear directly from the Administration about how it plans to bring a responsible end to the war in Afghanistan."
On Aug. 31, 2020, Chairman Lynch, Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, and 13 Democratic Committee Members wrote a letter demanding testimony about the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan after the Trump Administration refused to appear before the Subcommittee for more than a year.
On Sept. 10, 2020, Ambassador Khalilzad spoke with Chairman Lynch and committed to testifying before the Subcommittee. Ambassador Khalilzad also offered to provide Members with a closed-door, classified briefing.
