Green Berets Rally to Defend Afghan Allies After Washington-Area Shooting

Green Berets Rally to Defend Afghan Allies After Washington-Area Shooting

In the chaotic months after the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, U.S. Army Special Forces veterans mobilized to help Afghan partners who had fought and worked alongside them evacuate and resettle in the United States. Those Afghans were often targeted by the Taliban for collaborating with U.S. forces and faced grave danger if they remained at home.

Last week’s shooting near the White House — which killed 20-year-old National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe — has renewed scrutiny of Afghan evacuees and prompted swift policy responses from the current administration. Authorities charged 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan who reportedly served in a CIA-trained unit, in the attack.

Veterans Push Back Against Broad Brush

Many Green Berets and other veterans who worked closely with Afghan units say it is unjust and dangerous to paint all Afghan partners with the same brush because of one alleged attacker. Thomas Kasza, Ben Hoffman and Dave Elliott are among those who have dedicated time and resources to helping Afghans who served with U.S. forces.

"It is definitely not fair to group all Afghans that helped us during our time in Afghanistan in that same basket as this individual,"

said Ben Hoffman, a Green Beret with five deployments to Afghanistan. Dave Elliott said many Afghan partners he remains in contact with are now "terrified" about their fate in the United States and fear being returned to a country where retribution attacks have been documented.

Elliott and Kasza co-founded the 1208 Foundation, a nonprofit that supports Afghans who aided U.S. forces during the war. Geeta Bakshi, a former CIA officer who runs FAMIL (which assists Afghans who served in units under CIA command), cautioned that the actions of one accused attacker could unfairly tarnish a community of people who risked their lives alongside Americans.

Who the Afghan Partners Were

Green Berets often worked with specially trained Afghan units that moved ahead of U.S. forces to locate and disable improvised explosive devices — an extremely hazardous role that cost many lives. Other partners served as interpreters, drivers and support personnel. Many who left Afghanistan in 2021 did so because staying behind posed a mortal threat.

Policy Response and Human Costs

Following the arrest, the administration announced pauses to some asylum decisions and to issuing certain visas for Afghan nationals. Senior officials criticized immigration screening protocols that allowed the suspect to enter the country, while veterans and advocates warned the measures will deepen hardships for Afghans already stuck in legal limbo.

Lakanwal has pleaded not guilty to murder and related charges. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive. Reports say he lived in Washington state with a wife and five children, struggled to feed his family, and had been dealing with mental-health challenges.

Many resettled Afghans remain ineligible to work legally while awaiting visa approvals or asylum decisions — processes that were facilitated for some by temporary programs put in place during the 2021 evacuations. The temporary halts in those pathways are likely to increase economic strain and worsen access to health care.

Mental Health, Trust and Future Partnerships

Veterans and advocates emphasize that Afghan partners often suffer severe physical and psychological wounds from years of fighting. "You have to consider invisible scars from the war," Bakshi said, noting parallels with U.S. veterans who struggle with PTSD and suicide risks. Without affordable access to mental-health care, many former Afghan partners are especially vulnerable.

Kasza and others also warned of a longer-term strategic cost. Special Forces rely on trusted local partners to operate effectively. If future partners fear abandonment or betrayal, they may be far less willing to risk their lives alongside U.S. forces.

What Veterans Are Doing

Groups like the 1208 Foundation and FAMIL continue to assist resettled Afghans with housing, legal navigation and support services. Veterans interviewed stressed that most Afghan partners came to the United States out of necessity, having no safe option at home, and that broad punitive measures risk harming people who helped U.S. missions and now need help themselves.

Source: Originally reported by NBCNews.com