US media have reported that the man who allegedly opened fire on two National Guard soldiers near the White House on Wednesday has ties to the CIA and US Special Forces. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, previously served in Kandahar, Afghanistan, alongside US forces.
According to US intelligence sources cited by international media, Lakanwal “had a prior relationship with various entities in the US government, including the CIA, due to his work as a member of a partner force in Kandahar.”
Lakanwal, 29, moved to the United States after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. He served in the US Special Forces for ten years before settling in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children. He is currently employed at Amazon.
Following the incident, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that immigration requests from Afghan nationals will be suspended until a thorough security review is completed. The agency posted on X: “Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols.”
The post emphasized, “The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.”
Security analysts noted that Lakanwal’s prior affiliation with the CIA and US Special Forces could complicate the investigation. Authorities are examining whether his past assignments may have influenced the attack near the White House.
The FBI and Secret Service are leading the investigation and have yet to release details about the motives behind the alleged attack. No additional suspects have been reported.
In other news read more about US Suspends Immigration Requests For Afghan Nationals After Attack
This case has raised concerns over the security of military veterans with foreign origins and the protocols used to vet individuals with prior ties to sensitive government agencies like the CIA.
