Democratic members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee sent a letter to the State Department Monday that accused Secretary Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoOvernight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers Overnight Defense: House Democrats unveil stopgap spending measure to GOP opposition | Bill includes .6B for new subs | Trump issues Iran sanctions after world shrugs at US action at UN Navalny calls on Russia to return clothes he was wearing when he fell ill MORE of blocking the agency’s Afghanistan envoy from testifying in front of the panel.

Committee Chairman Eliot Engel Eliot Lance EngelHouse panel halts contempt proceedings against Pompeo after documents turned over Engel subpoenas US global media chief Michael Pack The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep MORE (D-N.Y.) led the panel’s Democrats in the letter that repeated their call for Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, to brief the group on updates regarding U.S. efforts in the war-torn country. They accused the State Department of a “lack of transparency” over its efforts in Afghanistan and threatened to force Khalilzad to appear before the committee.

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“The State Department’s lack of transparency with Congress on a foreign policy issue of this magnitude is unacceptable and hinders this body’s constitutional oversight responsibilities,” they wrote.

“We urge you to immediately reverse your untenable position and commit to having Ambassador Khalilzad brief this committee within seven days of his return to the United States. As we know you appreciate from your service in Congress, the Committee has the right to such information, and we are prepared to use every tool at our disposal to ensure that we are able to conduct our constitutionally mandated oversight responsibilities.”

The Trump administration is currently pursuing peace talks with the Taliban to end an 18-year war in Afghanistan and pull troops from the nation. The talks, led by Khalilzad, have produced an initial blueprint for an eventual agreement that could include the withdrawal of U.S. troops and a ceasefire in the country in return for the Taliban agreeing to not harbor terrorist organizations that could threaten U.S. security.

During testimony in front of the House panel last month, Pompeo said he would not allow State Department officials to brief committee members on the negotiations, saying he was concerned classified information would be leaked.

While President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE has touted progress in the talks with the Taliban, bipartisan lawmakers have expressed skepticism about how much progress could be made with the armed group.

Khalilzad sought to allay concerns on Capitol Hill in February, saying that while the administration was hopeful for a resolution by July, the withdrawal of U.S. troops was “conditions-based.”

“A peace agreement can allow withdrawal, but it is not just a withdrawal agreement that we are seeking,” he said. “As I’ve said publicly in my tweets before, nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to.”