The Afghan national accused of shooting two U.S. National Guard members near Washington, D.C.’s White House is the subject of intense scrutiny, with intelligence officials revealing that the suspect had ties to U.S. government entities—including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)—during his work in Afghanistan. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, who is currently in U.S. custody, was part of a partner force in Kandahar before his arrival in the United States under ‘Operation Allies Welcome,’ a program designed to resettle Afghans who had worked with the U.S. government following the chaotic withdrawal of American forces in August 2021.
Intelligence sources confirmed to Fox News Digital that Lakanwal’s prior involvement with U.S. agencies, particularly the CIA, raised alarms within security circles. CIA Director John Ratcliffe, in a statement to the news outlet, criticized the Biden administration’s decision to bring the suspect to the U.S., accusing it of ‘catastrophic failures’ that left American service members vulnerable. ‘Our citizens and service members deserve far better than to endure the ongoing fallout from the Biden administration’s catastrophic failures,’ Ratcliffe said, while expressing support for the National Guard.
The incident has been investigated as a possible act of international terrorism, with the FBI confirming that the two critically injured West Virginia National Guardsmen are still in stable but severe condition. President Donald Trump took to the nation’s airwaves to voice his outrage, calling the attack a ‘savage act of evil’ and condemning the perpetrators for targeting American soldiers ‘just steps away from the White House.’ Trump emphasized that the attackers had engaged in a ‘monstrous ambush-style attack,’ with one of the Guardsmen allegedly shot at point-blank range. His comments further energized the political divide, with critics questioning the administration’s policies in Afghanistan and its handling of security threats at home.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as a ‘targeted shooting,’ with the suspect being ‘taken into custody’ following the attack. The fallout has intensified debates over the implications of bringing former Afghan allies into the U.S., especially amid calls for accountability and the need to secure critical infrastructure and public spaces. The incident also underscores the broader controversy over the withdrawal from Afghanistan and its effects on U.S. foreign policy and domestic security.