Following the identification of Afghan-origin Rahmanullah Lakanwal as the suspected shooter outside the White House, former Afghanistan vice president Amrullah Saleh has made an urgent appeal to the Donald Trump administration, requesting that all Afghan-origin people not be held responsible for one individual's actions.
Three Critical Requests from Former Afghan Leader
In a significant statement, Amrullah Saleh outlined three specific demands to the US government. The former vice president explicitly called Lakanwal "the worst of all Afghans" while emphasizing that 40 million Afghans should not pay the price for his actions.
"First, please do not be angry with all the people of Afghanistan. There are 40 million of us. That man was the very worst - & he was there due to Biden's disastrous decision," Saleh wrote in his appeal to the Trump administration.
His second request targeted financial support to the Taliban government, stating: "Second, please stop sending tens of millions of dollars to the Taliban every week."
Citizenship Revocation Demand and Political Fallout
Saleh's third request involved a personal target - former US ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad. "Third, as a real preventative and punitive measure, revoke the citizenship of Zalmay Khalilzad, so that the next generation of Afghan Americans knows the price of being a traitor. He brought shame to you and disaster to Afghanistan," the former VP wrote.
This strong statement comes amid heightened tensions after President Donald Trump labeled the Washington shooting an 'act of terror' and immediately suspended processing all immigration requests from Afghans.
Shooter's Background and US Response
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, the initiative that provided entry to approximately 76,000 Afghans following the US troop withdrawal and Taliban takeover.
Investigations revealed that Lakanwal had previously been part of a CIS-backed paramilitary group, receiving training to conduct night raids and clandestine missions across Afghanistan during the US war. His specific unit operated in the southern province of Kandahar and surrounding areas, specializing in covert operations.
In response to the security incident, President Trump announced that all Afghan refugees currently in the US would undergo re-examination, signaling a major shift in immigration policy toward Afghan nationals.
The situation highlights the complex aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the ongoing challenges in managing refugee programs while maintaining national security.
