Taliban ambassador to Qatar Suhail Shaheen says Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) may be attempting to implicate Afghanistan in the recent shooting near the White House, urging Washington to conduct a neutral and comprehensive investigation into the incident.
He added that he does not rule out the possibility of involvement by foreign intelligence networks, including the ISI, in the incident.
Last Wednesday, two US National Guard soldiers were shot and seriously injured near the White House. US President Donald Trump later said one of the injured, Sara Beckstrom, had died. Trump stated that the suspect in the attack was named Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who had travelled from Afghanistan to the United States.
According to him, individuals like Lakanwal entered the US during Joe Biden’s presidency without proper security screening.
Lakanwal had previously worked for the agency in Afghanistan before emigrating to the US shortly after the 2021 withdrawal of Western forces.
Suhail Shaheen, Taliban ambassador to Qatar, told CNN News 18, ISI may be attempting to implicate Afghanistan in the recent shooting near the White House.
He said that Kabul “does not rule out any possibility,” including involvement by external intelligence networks seeking to portray Afghans as a security threat.
Shaheen emphasised that Taliban’s policy on foreign attacks was unchanged. “Our policy is clear, we do not allow anyone to use Afghanistan soil for operations against any country,” he said, stressing the need for a “sound conclusion” based on professional inquiry.
Asked whether ISI could have influenced or directed the attacker, he said the possibility could not be ruled out but added that firm conclusions must await the outcome of the investigation. “One cannot say with certainty until all angles are examined,” he noted.
Responding to reports that the US has tightened immigration scrutiny for Afghans after the shooting, Shaheen said it was for Washington to decide how it investigates the matter.
He added that the Taliban “condemns attacks on civilians anywhere in the world.”
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