An Afghan man, believed to have shot and killed two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., has military connections to another Afghan who was arrested in Texas just a day earlier for making a bomb threat. This situation has thrown a spotlight on the shortcomings in the vetting and monitoring of Afghan migrants—many of whom had supported U.S. forces during the Afghanistan war—especially following the chaotic withdrawal of troops under the Biden administration.
It’s concerning that both individuals served at the same anti-terrorism base in Kandahar during their time in Afghanistan, sources indicate.
Rahmanullah Rakanwal is the name of the man accused of the shootings near the White House last Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which also included the death of Sarah Beckstrom, a specialist in the West Virginia National Guard. Following the incident, former officials from the Trump administration shared details about Rakanwal’s past service with U.S. forces at an Afghan military special operations base.
This brings up an interesting point: The second suspect, Mohammad Dawood Alokozai, 30, charged with making terroristic threats during a call on November 23, has not had any details disclosed about his activities in Afghanistan or his arrival in the U.S.
Both men were at the same anti-terrorism base, where Alokozai worked as a security guard. They may not have interacted directly, but their paths likely crossed, according to a former Afghan military official.
General Haibatullah Alizai, the last chief of staff of the Afghan army before the Kabul fell, noted that while Alokozai served six years in this unit, it’s unclear how their experiences may or may not have intertwined.
The base itself, positioned on what was once the compound of a notorious Taliban leader, housed approximately 1,900 soldiers and included the special operators known as the QSF.
After Alokozai’s arrest, Alizai spoke with officials, including the former commander of Alokozai, gathering insights into his past and personal life. He described Alokozai as polite, mentioning his long-standing service in the Afghan National Police—a fact that raises questions about what might have pushed him towards radicalization.
Moreover, Alokozai has been charged with intimidating two men through TikTok and other platforms, claiming he intended to build a suicide bomb targeting Americans. According to federal reports, his rhetoric included threats against “infidels” and discussions of bomb-making using specific materials favored by the Taliban.
An informant reportedly alerted authorities about Alokozai’s violent threats after witnessing disturbing content from his online interactions. During conversations, he expressed a willingness to commit acts of violence against those he deemed opponents, which adds a chilling layer to this situation.
Follow the latest updates on the National Guard shooting in Washington, DC.
On December 4, a third Afghan man named Jaan Shah Safi was arrested, suspected of aiding the ISIS-K group. Reflecting on these troubling events, Representative Ben Klein stated that it emphasizes the consequences of inadequate vetting during the massive influx of Afghan nationals into the U.S. post-withdrawal.
All three individuals had entered the U.S. in 2021 and had connections to extremist activities, raising alarms about how these migrant processes were handled.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew criticized the situation further, emphasizing the need for thorough investigations into potential connections among these individuals to prevent any future threats.
The Department of Homeland Security, Pentagon, and CIA were approached for further details on the backgrounds of both detained Afghans.
In the wake of the shootings, President Sean Vandiver of AfghanEvac accused the government of manipulating narratives surrounding the incidents to further anti-Afghan sentiments.
Meanwhile, Alizai cautioned that swiftly identifying those Afghans who may have become radicalized must be balanced with sensitivity to the broader Afghan community, who are also navigating a precarious situation.
