KABUL: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a congressional delegation haveconcluded an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, Pelosi’s office said Sundayevening.
The secret trip was made as Pelosi led the high-level congressionaldelegation to Jordan this weekend, where her office says they discussedMiddle East peace and Syria with members of the country’s royal family.
The group, consisting of eight Democrats and one Republican, met withAfghan President Ashraf Ghani, as well as the country’s chief executive,Abdullah Abdullah, and other senior Afghanistan government officials,according to a statement from Pelosi’s office. Defense Secretary Mark Espervisited the country at the same time for the first time in this role, andmet with the delegation.
The delegation discussed security, governing and economic developmentduring the visit, according to the statement. The group also traveled toCamp Morehead to meet with coalition troops.
“Our delegation emphasized the central importance of combating thecorruption which endangers security and undermines the Afghan people’sability to achieve a stable and prosperous future,” Pelosi said in thestatement. “We underscored that the women of Afghanistan must be at thetable for reconciliation talks.”
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The nine-member delegation included House Intelligence Chairman AdamSchiff, Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel, Homeland Security ChairmanBennie Thompson and lone Republican Rep. Mac Thornberry, the ranking memberof the House Armed Services Committee who has announced he won’t seekreelection.
The delegation focused on reconciliation efforts with the Taliban, amongother topics.
“Meeting with and hearing directly from our troops and diplomats on theground is essential for Congress to conduct effective oversight of ourmission in Afghanistan,” Pelosi said. “We will return to Washingtonstrengthened with the facts and the first-hand knowledge we have gatheredat this critical time for our nation’s Afghanistan policy and inspired bythe courage of our servicemembers and diplomats on the front lines.”Courtesy: (CNN)
