National Security Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan

Statement

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 August 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 September 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.

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