The recent arrest of an Afghan man accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., has unveiled a startling connection to another individual with a disturbing plot. Both men served at the same counterterrorism base in Kandahar during the Afghan war.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, aged 29, faces first-degree murder charges following the tragic incident on November 25, which resulted in the death of 20-year-old service member Sarah Beckstrom. Lakanwal allegedly opened fire on Beckstrom and a fellow National Guard member, who were stationed in the nation’s capital.

On the same day Lakanwal was charged, the Justice Department disclosed a separate case involving Mohammad Alokozay, a 30-year-old Afghan national. He faces accusations of threatening to construct a bomb and carry out a suicide attack, an alarming intention he allegedly shared during a video call posted on social media.

According to sources who spoke with the New York Post, both Lakanwal and Alokozay were based at the same military installation in Kandahar, although they held different roles. Their overlapping time at the base during the Afghan war is particularly concerning, as highlighted by a senior former Afghan military official.

A senior former Afghan military official told the publication that the two men worked at the base and their time overlapped, although they had different roles. 

It’s unclear if Lakanwal and Alokozay ever met or interacted during their time in Kandahar. 

General Haibatullah Alizai, the last chief of staff for the Afghan Army, told the New York Post that Alokozay was a security guard at Strike Force 03. 

He guarded the unit for six years. Alizai told the publication that those who served with Alokozay said he was polite. He also served with the Afghan National Police. 

Mohammad Alokozay, 30, was federally charged for allegedly threatening to make a bomb and kill Americans in a suicide mission 

A new report has linked Alokozay with the suspect in the National Guard shooting that killed a service member. The two reportedly served together at a counterterrorism base in Kandahar Pictured: A file photo of US Army Special Forces in Kandahar 

‘Both positions could have provided targets of opportunity if he had wanted to carry out an attack – suggesting he may have been radicalized after migrating to the US around the same time as Lakanwal,’ Alizai said. 

The former chief explained that Alokozay served in the war for almost 20 years, questioning when and how he became radicalized. 

‘This is the guy that I believe needs more investigation, even more than Lakanwal,’ he said. 

Alokozay was federally charged with transmitting threatening communication in interstate commerce for a video where he said he wanted to build a bomb and conduct a suicide attack to kill Americans. 

He made the threats on a video call with at least two other men, which was recorded and subsequently posted on social media. 

Alokozay was seen angrily gesturing in the video and speaking Dari, a language commonly spoken in Afghanistan. 

He threatened to kill ‘infidels’ and Americans, claiming he wanted to build a bomb in his vehicle and referenced a yellow cooking oil used by the Taliban to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs). 

Alokozay also allegedly said in the call that he did not care if he was deported or killed for the crime. 

Alokozay was arrested and charged with transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce after he told people on a video call he would make a bomb in his vehicle and carry out a suicide bombing against Americans and ‘infidels’ 

General Haibatullah Alizai, the last chief of staff for the Afghan Army, told the New York Post that Alokozay was a security card at Strike Force 03 and served for 20 years 

Alokozay and Lakanwal both migrated to the US under Operation Allies Welcome, spokespeople for the Justice Department and Homeland Security previously confirmed to the Daily Mail. 

The program gave parole status to Afghans who helped the US in the war when the Taliban overtook Afghanistan in August 2021, following the US military’s departure from the region. 

The Biden Administration granted Afghans vulnerable to attacks from the Taliban entry into the US during this period. 

Lakanwal received asylum in the US after the Taliban seized control and resided in Bellingham, Washington, with his family, according to the New York Times. 

Authorities said that Lakanwal enlisted in one of the CIA’s Zero Units. The group was instructed to raid and kill or capture members of the Taliban, al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and other terrorist groups.

Alokozay and Lakanwal aided the US in the war in the Middle East and came to the country under Operation Allies Welcome

President Biden launched the program to help vulnerable Afghans after the Taliban seized control following the withdrawal of US troops 

According to Human Rights Watch, Zero Units were recruited, trained, and overseen by the CIA.

Human Rights Watch accused the militant groups of violating international humanitarian law by carrying out unjustified executions, attacks, and airstrikes.

The CIA has denied the allegations and said the group played a critical role in the US military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Federal authorities are still investigating a possible motive connected to the attack against National Guardsmen in DC. 

Investigators believe that Lakanwal traveled from his home in Washington to the nation’s capital to carry out the violence. 

He is accused of killing Beckstrom and severely injuring West Virginia service member Andy Wolfe, 24. 

Wolfe is still in the hospital, but West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced on Friday that his head wound is ‘slowly healing,’ and his parents say he’s beginning to ‘look more like himself.’ 

‘Overall, the family expects that Andy will be in acute care for another two to three weeks but have been optimistic about his progress,’ Morrisey added. 

Andrew Wolfe (L) was critically injured, and Sarah Beckstrom (R) was killed in the November shooting in DC 

‘We continue to ask all West Virginians and Americans for their prayers! They are making a difference!’

Community members in Berkeley County gathered at Wolfe’s former high school on Friday night to hold a vigil in his honor. 

A third guardsman shot Lakanwal to end the attack. Lakanwal is still recovering from his injuries and appeared remotely for his first hearing on Tuesday to enter a not guilty plea.