Afghan Suspect in DC Shooting Linked to CIA
A suspect in the DC shooting of National Guard troops, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had previously worked with the CIA during the US occupation of Afghanistan. Officials confirmed that Lakanwal entered the US under a special evacuation program for vulnerable Afghans after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that Lakanwal’s admittance was due to his prior work with the US government, and he echoed criticism of the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal.
The incident has sparked renewed debate over the handling of Afghans who worked with US forces. The shooting of US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and US Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe has intensified calls for accountability over the evacuation process. The FBI has confirmed that Lakanwal had a relationship with partner forces in Afghanistan, which is under investigation.
According to the BBC’s Afghan Service, a former military commander who served alongside Lakanwal described his role as a GPS tracker specialist in a unit known as Scorpion Forces, which operated under the CIA and later under Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security. The commander added that Lakanwal moved from Kandahar to Kabul five days before the Taliban captured the capital in August 2021 and was airlifted to the US six days later.
The case has drawn comparisons to the broader scrutiny of the US-led withdrawal from Afghanistan. Former President Donald Trump had criticized the Biden administration for the ‘disastrous’ withdrawal, a stance echoed by Ratcliffe, who called for a reevaluation of the process for allowing Afghans with ties to the US military into the country.
As investigations continue, the case serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding the post-Taliban transition in Afghanistan. The events have prompted discussions on the security implications of allowing former allies into the United States and the ethical considerations of their integration into civilian life.