A fatal shooting incident in Washington, DC, has raised concerns about the US government’s evacuation program for Afghans who worked with Western troops. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, is suspected of firing at two West Virginia National Guard members while they were patrolling the street. The incident resulted in the death of US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, while US Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition.
According to officials, Lakanwal entered the US in September 2021 under a special program designed to evacuate vulnerable Afghans, including those who had worked with Western troops, after the Taliban recaptured the country. CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that Lakanwal was admitted into the US due to his prior work with the US government, including the CIA, as a member of a partner force in Kandahar.
Lakanwal’s background has been revealed, with reports suggesting he worked 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. He also reportedly helped guard American troops at Kabul airport during the final weeks of the withdrawal in 2021. A former military commander who served alongside Lakanwal stated that he moved from Kandahar to Kabul five days before the Taliban entered the capital in August 2021 and was airlifted to the US six days later.
The FBI is investigating Lakanwal’s prior connections, with Director Kash Patel confirming that he had a relationship with partner forces in Afghanistan. The incident has sparked criticism, with some questioning the US government’s vetting process for evacuees. The shooting has also highlighted the complexities of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the challenges of resettling individuals who worked with Western troops.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The case has significant implications for the US government’s evacuation program and its efforts to resettle Afghans who worked with Western troops. As the investigation continues, it is likely to raise further questions about the vetting process and the support provided to evacuees as they settle in the US.
