CONFLICTED The CIA’s Zero Units in Afghanistan
Feb 10, 2026
They trace a Washington, D.C. shooting back to CIA-backed Afghan Zero Units and their clandestine kill-or-capture missions. They explore the units' origins, regional roles, and why they sparked controversy. They unpack Afghanistan's counterterrorism geography, the psychological toll of black ops, vetting in German halfway houses, and how broken promises affect future alliances.
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Alleged Shooter’s Path From Zero Unit To US
- Rahmanullah Lakanwal arrived in the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome after serving in a CIA-backed Kandahar Strike Force.
- Aimen Dean and Thomas Small highlight his likely trauma from kill-or-capture missions and sparse post-transfer support.
Assess And Treat Combat Trauma Before Resettlement
- Provide psychiatric assessment and treatment before resettling former combatants to prevent violent outcomes.
- Aimen Dean argues 'you break it, you fix it' and recommends halfway-house vetting with mental-health support.
Treat Local Allies As Brothers In Arms
- Honor obligations to local partners as a matter of military ethics and strategic necessity.
- Thomas Small and Aimen Dean urge treating allied Afghans 'like brothers in arms' to preserve honor and operational access.