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1. Follow for live tweets of the SFRC hearing with Zalmay Khalilzad:https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/us-policy-on-afghanistan-042721 …
2. Menendez: only way for the Taliban to avoid pariah status is to engage in the democratic process, reach a peace deal, and respect women's rights. He does not envision continued aid if the Taliban gain power & govern outside of these parameters.
3. Risch claims the US should demand a conditions based reduction of troops and keep a CT presence in Afghanistan. Reject the idea of a regional approach.
4. Sen. Risch expresses "serious concerns" about oversight over future aid to Afghanistan. He is "skeptical" about the security of the US embassy.
5. Amb. Khalilzad: Decision to withdraw made on 4 judgments: (1) original objective was to "root out al Qaeda" & AQ degraded; (2) terror threat geographically dispersed; (3) mission no longer makes sense; (4) a course reversal not in US interest. No return to status quo possible.
6. Amb. Khalilzad: will hold the Taliban accountable on CT commitments. US will remain engaged in the diplomatic process to achieve a political settlement and permanent ceasefire. US will support "continuing partnership" with Afghanistan.
7. Khalilzad: "with the support of Congress" the US will continue substantial security and civilian assistance.
8. Khalilzad: claims he has repeatedly sought the release of hostage Mark Frerichs from Taliban.
9. Khalilzad: "We have urged Pakistan's leaders to exercise their considerable leverage over the Taliban to reduce violence."
11. Menendez: Why do you think the Taliban have been fighting? Khalilzad: They are fighting to expel foreign forces. Menendez: Would you agree they wish to establish an emirate? Khalilzad: They have stated that but also that they changed.
12. Khalilzad: claims that if the Taliban pursue an emirate over a political settlement then they will have a long war in front of them with their fellow Afghans.
13: Menendez: "If I don't get the report [on the status US-Taliban agreement commitments), then there will be no more authorizations from this Committee."
14. Menendez: asks about the Special Immigrant Visa program for Afghans. Khalilzad: says they are developing a plan but does not go into specifics.
15. Sen. Romney: thanks Khalilzad for his efforts over the years. Also makes a note of the sacrifice of US soldiers.
Claims that US soldiers "believed" that what they were fighting for was in the best interest of their brothers and sisters and America. 
16. Khalilzad "We have had no fatalities since that agreement [US-Taliban Agreement] was signed over a year ago."
17. Khalilzad: US is less satisfied with the levels of violence inflicted on Afghans after the agreement.
18. Romney: What do you predict? Relative stability or imminent collapse? Khalilzad: Reject imminent collapse. Choice is between a negotiated political settlement or a long war. "I hope they [Afghan leaders] will learn the mistakes of the past."
19. Romney: asks about Iran's support for stability. Khalilzad: Iran is opposed to a Taliban takeover and supports a political settlement.
20. Sen. Coons: I am concerned about our ability to implement robust assistance if the Taliban fall short of basic commitments on fundamental human rights or violence escalates.
21. Khalilzad: we would like to have robust assistance but it depends on the performance of Afghans. Development assistance provides us with "leverage" over the Taliban.
22. Coons: What are China's core interests in Afghanistan? Also, is there a scenario where Afghanistan would request UN peacekeepers? Khalilzad: Chinese were satisfied to see the US deal with the challenge of Afghanistan & terrorism. Now China and other neighbors have to rise.
23. Khalilzad: China has said their core concern is terrorism from Afghanistan. But there are also economic interests. "Core number one interest is the terrorism interest."
24. Khalilzad: "Peace settlements where a third party enforcer tend to last longer. Academic literature demonstrates that."
25. Sen. Johnson: Is there evidence that the Taliban truly want to move forward? Khalilzad: we will have to see. We have made it clear that ending their pariah status depends on it.
26. Khalilzad: security situation so dire that even some Afghan elites with 2 children send them to school on alternating days so they do not lost both at once to an attack.
27. Khalilzad: "The issue is should we use US troops to enforce particular values, especially when we have been there for 20 years in a war for which there is no military solution? We have other instruments that will remain relevant and powerful in my view."
28. Khalilzad: Key instrument to incentivize compliance by the Taliban and Afghan government is to make assistance conditional.
29. Risch: What is your view of the future of women's rights enshrined in the Afghan constitution if the Taliban take over the government? Khalilzad: "We should be concerned..." US will have to use diplomatic engagement, assistance & recognition as leverage.
30. Risch: Do you agree we should hold the $300 million additional assistance if the government may fall to the Taliban? Khalilzad: Assistance is conditional. Risch: I mean in the interim shouldn't we hold onto the $? Khalilzad: $ is to demonstrate support *during* transition.
31. Sen. Murphy: We need to accept the "facts on the ground." What would it look like if we stayed another year at our current levels? Khalilzad: We would be back at war with the Taliban. Military balance was turning in the favor of the Taliban over the last several years.
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