What We Know About the National Guard Shooting Suspect

AFP/APP

WASHINGTON: The man suspected of shooting two National Guard soldiers near the White House on Wednesday is an Afghan national who previously worked alongside US forces in Afghanistan, according to US media reports.

US authorities have labeled the incident an “act of terror” and announced tighter scrutiny of Afghans who entered the United States in recent years.

Below is what is known so far about the suspected shooter:

– Former Afghan Military –

Multiple outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, CBS and NBC, identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who reportedly arrived in the United States in 2021.

A relative told NBC that Lakanwal served 10 years in the Afghan army in support of US Special Forces. He hailed from Khost province and had also been stationed at a military base in Kandahar, a former Taliban stronghold and a key battlefield during the 20-year US-led war.

– 2021 Arrival –

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the suspect was “one of the many unvetted” Afghans who entered the country under Operation Allies Welcome.

She said the Afghan national arrived on September 8, 2021, shortly after the Taliban takeover.

The withdrawal stemmed from a February 2020 agreement signed between then-President Donald Trump and the Taliban, aimed at ending America’s longest war. While the drawdown began under Trump, it was completed under the Biden administration.

– ‘Operation Allies Welcome’ –

Following the Taliban’s return to power on August 15, 2021, the Biden administration launched Operation Allies Welcome to coordinate the resettlement of Afghans, including those who had assisted US forces.

At the time, more than 40% of Afghans entering through the program were eligible for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for those who had taken significant risks to support US military or civilian efforts. Other vulnerable groups — including journalists and rights defenders — also entered under the program.

Authorities have not confirmed whether Lakanwal obtained an SIV.

Afghans under the program underwent vetting by multiple agencies, including the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center.

In September 2022, the program was renamed “Enduring Welcome” (EW) to reflect a long-term strategy focused on securing permanent legal pathways for Afghan arrivals.

– Mass Evacuations –

The chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan saw Kabul airport descend into turmoil as thousands attempted to flee.

US President Joe Biden vowed that those who supported American efforts would be evacuated.

The United Nations has since documented extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of former Afghan officials, despite the Taliban’s announced amnesty.

More than 190,000 Afghans have been resettled in the US under Operation Allies Welcome and Enduring Welcome, according to the US State Department. Tens of thousands more — including former translators and Afghan security personnel — are still awaiting resettlement.

A new travel ban announced in June by Donald Trump on 12 countries, including Afghanistan, has further complicated reunification efforts, said Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac.

He noted that approximately 12,000 Afghans are waiting to join family members already in the United States.