US House speaker Pelosi makes unannounced visit to Afghanistan

WASHINGTON DC: United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other senior members of Congress made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Sunday, her office said.

Pelosi, who travelled to Afghanistan after a stop in Jordan on Saturday, met President Ashraf Ghani and visiting US Defense Secretary Mark Esper as well as top US military commanders and some of their troops, according to a statement released after the conclusion of the visit by the bipartisan delegation.

The lawmakers’ trip to the Middle East and South Asia occurred amid questions about the United States’ commitment to its allies after President Donald Trump’s sudden withdrawal of US troops from northeastern Syria over his long-time desire to unwind from foreign military engagements. Pelosi’s relations with Trump are at a low point as she leads an impeachment inquiry against him.

Trump last month broke off negotiations with Afghan Taliban militants aimed at ending the United States’ longest war, a move that critics say highlighted a confused US approach to Afghanistan.