Brian Mann

The Afghan accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers was part of a CIA zero unit fighting the Taliban.

Some zero unit fighters, including Daoud, now say after coming to the U.S., they didn't receive help getting permanent asylum or work visas that would allow them to start new lives.

Daoud spoke on condition of anonymity because he fears for the safety of families still living in Afghanistan.

Daoud and an aid group called FAMIL that works with zero-unit fighters say at least four men have taken their own lives since coming to the U.S.

The CIA declined comment.

Brian Mann, NPR News.

Good morning, Michelle.

Michelle, these were Afghan special forces fighting against the Taliban, but they didn't work for Afghanistan's government.

They worked directly for the CIA.

They were led by CIA operatives.

I spoke with Gita Bakshi.

She's a former CIA agent who spent four years in Afghanistan, often working with these zero unit troops.

And their tactics were often brutal.

Groups like Human Rights Watch accused them of engaging in torture and illegal killings.

Thousands of these zero unit soldiers, including Lackinwall, were evacuated to the U.S.

in 2021 after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.

NPR reported last week, Michelle, that before the attack in Washington, D.C., Lackinwall appeared to be experiencing a personal crisis.

He's since pleaded not guilty to murder and other crimes.

Now people involved in these units tell me that many of Lackinwall's fellow Zero Unit fighters have felt similar stress and isolation and despair.

They describe feeling betrayed and abandoned by the CIA after years of that frontline combat service experience.