Akhtar Hussain Sandhu
Historian & Columnist
Chicago, USA
An Afghan terrorist, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, targeted two West Virginia National Guard members, named, Sarah Bechstrom and Andrew Wolfe, near the White House on 26 November 2025 in Washington, DC. The suspect has been working as a US official in Afghanistan and came to the USA in 2021. When the Taliban took over Afghanistan after the US left, approximately one hundred thousand Afghan nationals were permitted to enter the US under the Biden administration but he got resident status in 2024. Sarah Bechstrom passed away on 28 November while Andrew Wolfe is being treated in a hospital as he is said to be in a critical condition. The Afghan suspect will face capital punishment or life imprisonment under the US laws. President Donald Trump declared it a terrorist targeted attack and suspended the immigration process of all Afghans and others. An officer clearly announced to proceed keeping involvement of any group or country in this case. Many talking on the drone attack in Tajikistan killing three Chinese and Washington attack and construing an endeavor to capture Bagram Airport but as a matter of fact the killing of a National Guard and terrorist attack near White House can never be overlooked therefore, be seen as an individual sensitivity. Afghanistan has been a locus of evil as it damages humanity, peace, and social order by exporting terrorism and smuggling wherever they settle. This is because of the constant lawlessness in the country, pissed with the tribal system and criminal mindset.
Afghan nationals desire to flee from their country, where they live as either slaves or criminals. The commoners are to obey the tribal heads; therefore, they are used as tools in maintaining their grasp over the economic and human resources. In the past decades, Afghanistan sought every type of support from Pakistan, which the Pakistani establishment overtly or covertly provided and defended Afghanistan at international level. The Western policymakers named it the ‘double-faced policy’ of Pakistan as they posed to be with the NATO forces but in fact supported the Taliban forces. This policy proved dangerous, and Pakistan could not create a soft image in the eyes of the world powers. Resultantly, every terrorist attack, even by any Afghan in any part of the world, was linked to Pakistan. Although Pakistan had been a victim of the terrorist attacks within Pakistan, but even then, Pakistan could not be perceived as a soft state. Pakistan has been a heaven for the Afghans who studied in the Pakistani universities, established huge businesses, got Pakistani National Identity cards and passports, and even continued smuggling of weapons, petroleum, vehicles, spare parts, drugs, etc. They earned huge money from the poppy crops and established their political, social, and economic status within the Pakistani society. The Law Enforcement Agencies supported these Afghan smugglers under the undeclared state policy because many politicians and economic tycoons was a part of this game. After the departure of NATO from Afghanistan, the Taliban regime took over and unexpectedly went against Pakistan. They supported Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its allied groups, Baluchistan Liberation Alliance (BLA), violent elements in Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf (PTI), and other anti-Pakistan groups. Afghans, if cursed by the US, will endeavor to cross the Durand Line because Pakistan has proved heaven for the Afghans; therefore, the Pakistan army and other LEAs must be alert to deal strictly with:
- Afghans crossing the Durand Line illegally;
- Afghan living in Pakistan illegally;
- Pro-Afghan groups within Pakistan/the business groups;
- The terrorist/violent groups (Afghan and Pakistani);
- Pro-Afghan Police, bureaucrats and other officials and Politicians within Pakistan.
The US authorities are empowered and equipped tremendously to cope with the situation and President Donald Trump may suspend the financial support to the Taliban regime Afghanistan if involved in the Washington woeful incident, but Pakistan has to plan to counter mass as well as terrorists’ infiltration into Pakistan. In the past, Pakistan had to face numerous problems even in the implementation of the existing laws against the groups involved in the terrorism. Still, the provinces are unable to implement the National Action Program agreed upon by all the stakeholders. The current international scenario seems profoundly favorable therefore the Pakistani government and establishment have potential importance in the Muslim and western countries. Under the circumstances, this is the right time to take stern action against the terrorists and violent groups in Pakistan. Denmark and other western countries have already requested the US to reverse the immigration or asylum policy of Afghanistan, and now a terrorist attack by an Afghan in Washington DC, will verify the criminal mindset of the Afghan nationals and testify to all the state actions against the Afghans and violent groups disturbing the peace and order of the social fabric of Pakistan.