Congress seeks to question Trump envoy in Taliban talks

The Associated Press

5 years ago

FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2019 file photo, Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Z ... — FILE – In this Feb. 8, 2019 file photo, Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad speaks on the prospects for peace at the U.S. Institute of Peace, in Washington. Afghanistan’s Taliban leaders agreed they wanted a deal with the United States, but some among them were in more of a hurry than others. Even before U.S. President Donald Trump cancelled a mysterious Camp David summit on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, the Taliban negotiators were at odds with the council of leaders, or shura, that rules the Islamic movement. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee is issuing a subpoena to the Trump administration’s envoy to the U.S.-Taliban talks, demanding that he testify at an open congressional hearing next week.

Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said Thursday he’s “fed up” with what he says is the Trump administration’s effort to keep Congress and the American people “in the dark” about the peace process in Afghanistan.

Engel issued the subpoena to Zalmay Khalilzad on Thursday.

He says Khalilzad has ignored numerous requests to discuss the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan.

In a weekend tweet, Trump called off negotiations and canceled a meeting he said he wanted to have with Afghan government leaders and the Taliban at the Camp David presidential retreat.

The State Department had no immediate comment Thursday.