Taliban Denies Responsibility for National Guard Shooting by Former CIA-Backed Afghan Fighter

Dec 04, 2025 02:45 am CST

The Taliban government has officially denied any connection to the Washington shooting that killed one National Guard member, stating the Afghan suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal was "trained by Americans themselves." Lakanwal, a former CIA-backed fighter who came to the US after the 2021 withdrawal, has pleaded not guilty to the November 26 incident.