The shooting in DC by an Afghan suspect shouldn’t reflect on all Afghanistan, minister says

Afghan Foreign Minister Says Shooting Suspect Was U.S.-Trained, Incident “Not Reflective” of Afghan People

Afghanistan’s Taliban government has made its first official comments on the case of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national charged in the shooting of two U.S. National Guard members. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi emphasized that the suspect had been previously trained by American forces and that his actions should not reflect on the Afghan people as a whole.

Speaking at a meeting of community elders on Wednesday, Muttaqi characterized the shooting as “an individual incident” unconnected to broader Afghan society. “This is an individual incident and the person who committed this act was trained by the Americans,” Muttaqi said, according to a statement released by his ministry. “This issue has nothing to do with the noble people of Afghanistan.”

Lakanwal, 29, faces first-degree murder charges after West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from wounds sustained in the November 26 shooting. Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was critically wounded in the same attack. During his first court appearance on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to the murder and assault charges. He appeared remotely by video from a hospital bed, as he was also wounded during the incident.

The shooting has triggered significant policy changes within the U.S. government, which has introduced sweeping immigration reforms in response. These include a temporary pause on asylum applications and enhanced vetting requirements for certain immigrant categories.

Prior to coming to the United States, Lakanwal had served in one of Afghanistan’s specialized military units known as “Zero Units,” which operated with CIA backing. He entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program established to evacuate and resettle Afghans following the Taliban takeover and the chaotic withdrawal of American and NATO forces from the country. Many evacuees, like Lakanwal, had worked alongside U.S. military personnel and diplomats during the two-decade American presence in Afghanistan.

Muttaqi used the incident to criticize the Zero Units and their operations in Afghanistan. “We have been saying for 20 years that those operating as part of the Zero Units have caused thousands of incidents in Afghanistan,” he said, adding that these units were “also responsible for the deaths of Afghan citizens.”

The foreign minister further emphasized what he sees as American responsibility for the suspect’s actions, stating that U.S. forces “personally trained this person, made him their official employee.” He also characterized the evacuation that brought Lakanwal to the United States as “an illegal process that did not comply with any international principles.”

The case has highlighted the complex legacy of America’s longest war and raised questions about the vetting processes for Afghan allies brought to the United States. While thousands of Afghans who assisted American forces have successfully integrated into U.S. society, this high-profile incident has fueled debate about the security implications of the rapid evacuation efforts following the fall of Kabul in August 2021.

The shooting comes at a time of continued tension between the Taliban government, which remains unrecognized by most countries including the United States, and the international community. Since taking power, the Taliban has implemented strict interpretations of Islamic law and faced criticism for its restrictions on women’s rights and education.

U.S. officials have not publicly responded to Muttaqi’s specific claims about Lakanwal’s training or history with American forces, though investigations into the suspect’s background continue as the case proceeds through the American justice system.