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Afghan national pleads not guilty in deadly National Guard shooting near White House

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An Afghan national accused of carrying out a deadly shooting attack on members of the U.S. National Guard near the White House has pleaded not guilty to all charges in a federal court.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 30, appeared before a U.S. District Court on Tuesday following the unsealing of a 17-count federal superseding indictment. Prosecutors allege that Lakanwal killed West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and seriously wounded Guardsman Andrew Wolfe in an ambush-style attack in Washington, D.C., in November 2025.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the charges include first-degree murder and several firearms-related offenses, making the case eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors said they will begin the formal review process to determine whether capital punishment will be sought.

“Sarah Beckstrom was serving her country when she was allegedly killed in a targeted attack near the White House,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said in a statement, adding that authorities will pursue all legal avenues to seek justice for the victims.

Court documents allege that Lakanwal, a former contractor for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Afghanistan, drove from Washington state to the U.S. capital while carrying a stolen firearm. Prosecutors say he opened fire on National Guard personnel, striking Beckstrom and Wolfe in the head before being subdued by other Guardsmen at the scene.

Investigators recovered a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver that had reportedly been stolen in Seattle in 2023.

Beckstrom later died from her injuries on Thanksgiving Day, while Wolfe survived and continues to recover.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Lakanwal appeared in court wearing an orange prison uniform and using a wheelchair, reportedly due to injuries sustained during the incident. The court scheduled the next status hearing for September 16.

The final decision on whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty rests with Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche.

The case has drawn significant attention in the United States due to the attack’s proximity to the White House and Lakanwal’s previous work with U.S. government entities in Afghanistan.

 

 

 

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Qatar Ambassador holds farewell meeting Turkish diplomat in Kabul

The Qatari ambassador also wished the Turkish diplomat continued success in his future assignments.

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The Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Afghanistan, Dr. Mirdef bin Ali Al-Qashouti, has held a farewell meeting with Bilal Emre, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Türkiye in Kabul, marking the conclusion of the Turkish diplomat’s tenure in Afghanistan.

According to the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Kabul, Ambassador Al-Qashouti praised Bilal Emre’s contributions to strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation during his mission in Afghanistan.

The Qatari ambassador also wished the Turkish diplomat continued success in his future assignments.

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First deportation flight to Haiti arrives as US ends temporary protected status

Many of those deported had held TPS and had lived and worked in the United States since 2010.

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More than 160 people have been deported from the United States to Haiti as the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement following the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.

According to Democracy Now!, the flight was the first deportation flight to Haiti since the US Supreme Court allowed the administration to end TPS protections for an estimated 350,000 Haitians.

The flight landed Thursday in Cap-Haïtien in northern Haiti. Port-au-Prince’s main international airport has been considered too dangerous for such operations amid widespread gang violence and political instability.

Many of those deported had held TPS and had lived and worked in the United States since 2010.

The termination of the protection has raised concerns among Haitian communities and immigration advocates, who warn that thousands of people could be sent back to a country facing severe security and political challenges.

The Trump administration has defended the policy as part of its broader immigration crackdown, arguing that temporary protections are not intended to provide a permanent path to remain in the United States.First deportation flight to Haiti arrives as US ends temporary protected status.

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IEA announces new appointments in Badakhshan, Sar-e-Pul and Kandahar

Ahmad Shah Deendost, the former governor of Sar-e-Pul, has been appointed police chief of Badakhshan.

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The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, has announced a series of new appointments to senior provincial and government positions.

In a post on X, Mujahid said the appointments were made following an order from the IEA’s supreme leader.

Under the changes, Rahmatullah Najib, former administrative deputy at the Ministry of Interior, has been appointed governor of Badakhshan province.

Ahmad Shah Deendost, the former governor of Sar-e-Pul, has been appointed police chief of Badakhshan.

Abdul Jabbar Mawin, formerly responsible for road maintenance at the Ministry of Public Works, has been appointed administrative deputy at the Ministry of Interior.

Mohammad Ismail Ghaznawi, former governor of Badakhshan, has been appointed deputy for road maintenance at the Ministry of Public Works.

Bakhtiar Maaz, former governor of Laghman, has been appointed governor of Sar-e-Pul.

Meanwhile, Abdul Basir Mazhari, former police chief of Badakhshan, has been appointed head of the Public Works Department in Kandahar.

The latest appointments affect several senior civilian and security positions across the country, including provincial leadership and government ministries.

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