National Guard shooting suspect had US Military ties in Afghanistan

WEB DESK: The Afghan man accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House reportedly collaborated with several US government agencies during the war in Afghanistan, including the CIA, according to intelligence officials cited in a Fox News report.

The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was arrested after allegedly opening fire in central Washington, D.C. The two injured Guardsmen, both from West Virginia, remain in critical condition.

Shortly after the incident, US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced an immediate halt to all immigration processing for Afghan nationals. The agency did not provide a timeline for when applications might resume, deepening uncertainty for thousands still awaiting resettlement.

According to the report, Lakanwal arrived in the US in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, the programme established after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover. Intelligence officials told the outlet that before leaving the country, he served with a partner unit in Kandahar that worked closely with American agencies, including the CIA.

Former CIA director John Ratcliffe criticised the Biden administration’s decision to admit Lakanwal under the resettlement scheme, calling the shooting “a catastrophic consequence” of the 2021 evacuation. He said the suspect “should never have been brought to the United States.”

Multiple intelligence sources told Fox News that investigators are examining whether the attack may have been motivated by extremist influences or international terror groups.

In a video statement from Florida, President Donald Trump condemned the shooting, describing it as “an act of terror” and “a crime against humanity.”