What we know about the Afghan “Zero Unit” veteran accused in the D.C. National Guard shooting

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The man identified as the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, once served in one of Afghanistan’s most secretive and controversial paramilitary groups. According to American and Afghan officials familiar with his case, he was part of the so-called Zero Units, clandestine CIA-backed forces that conducted night raids and counterterrorism missions throughout the US war in Afghanistan. These units operated for years in parallel to the Afghan military, sometimes outside conventional chains of command, the New York Times reported.

By the time the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021, the Zero Units had been absorbed into the Afghan intelligence service. They numbered in the thousands and were among the last disciplined forces defending collapsing government positions as the Taliban advanced across the country.

What the Zero Units were and how they operated

The Zero Units, sometimes called Counterterrorism Pursuit Teams, were trained, equipped and overseen by the CIA. US Special Operations forces worked closely with them, providing tactical support and intelligence. Afghan officials later said that the CIA funded their salaries, which helped ensure loyalty even as the rest of the government faltered.

Because they were not part of the regular Afghan military structure, presidents and generals often needed to request their assistance through the CIA. Their missions ranged from hunting insurgent commanders to securing US and NATO installations, particularly during the chaotic final days of the Western withdrawal. Their effectiveness, secrecy and close American oversight made them indispensable to US counterterrorism operations but controversial among human rights groups.

A reputation for brutality and contested narratives

Despite their role in supporting US operations, the Zero Units developed a reputation for extreme violence. Human Rights Watch and journalists documented cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, attacks on medical facilities and civilian deaths during raids. A 2019 Human Rights Watch report described them as operating with impunity and said their actions at times violated international humanitarian law.

One cited example occurred in 2018, when a unit raided a home in Nangarhar Province and killed five members of a single family, including an older woman and a child. Taliban officials also accused the groups of looting near the end of the war. The CIA, for its part, dismissed many of the allegations as propaganda by the Taliban or distortions arising from the chaos of conflict.

The suspect’s background and resettlement

Officials familiar with the case say Lakanwal belonged to the 03 Unit, which operated primarily around Kandahar but drew many recruits from Afghanistan’s east. As the government collapsed in 2021, members of the Zero Units played a key role in holding key checkpoints and securing Kabul’s remaining Western-controlled areas ahead of evacuation flights.

Because of their service to US forces, numerous Zero Unit fighters were evacuated to the United States. Many were resettled in the Seattle area, including commanders and rank-and-file members. Lakanwal, according to officials who have reviewed his immigration records, received asylum in April. Other veterans said this status reflected the peril they faced from the Taliban if they had remained in Afghanistan.

Shockwaves among former comrades

The shooting has sent a wave of fear through scores of former Zero Unit members now living in the United States. Several said they were alarmed at the potential consequences for their already sensitive status as recent evacuees, as well as the perception it might create about their conduct. Many described themselves as trying to start over as ordinary residents, working and supporting their families while keeping a low profile.

Former members interviewed by reporters said they were attempting to distance themselves from the episode and feared that public association with the units’ reputation would complicate their efforts to integrate.

A complex legacy resurfacing in the United States

The Zero Units have long occupied an uneasy space in the legacy of the Afghan war. They were crucial allies for American forces and played a decisive role in the final evacuation. Yet their record has been marred by allegations of unlawful killings and civilian harm. In at least one past case, US immigration authorities even cited those allegations as grounds for denying asylum to a Zero Unit veteran.

Now, with a former member implicated in a high-profile shooting on American soil, their history is once again under scrutiny. The episode underscores how the unresolved aftermath of the war continues to appear in unexpected ways, affecting communities far from the battlegrounds where these units once operated.