Federal authorities arrested Afghan national Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi in Oklahoma City on Monday, accusing him of plotting an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack on Election Day. Tawhedi, who had previously worked as a security guard for the CIA in Afghanistan, entered the U.S. in 2021 during the Biden administration’s evacuation from Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American forces.
The arrest comes after the FBI deployed a confidential human source (CHS) to engage in covert communication with Tawhedi and his co-conspirators. According to prosecutors, Tawhedi had acquired two Kalashnikov rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, as he prepared for an attack intended to coincide with Election Day.
In encrypted Telegram messages shared by CBS News, Tawhedi is reported to have asked his accomplices whether the weapons and ammunition he had obtained would be sufficient for their planned assault. “What do you think, brother? Is it enough, or should we increase it?” he inquired, signaling his intent to escalate the plot further if necessary.
Tawhedi also mentioned the sale of his father-in-law’s house, valued at $185,000, which was expected to close by mid-October. He planned to use the funds to support the relocation of his family, including his wife, daughter, and five of his wife’s siblings, back to Afghanistan. Tawhedi purchased one-way tickets for his family, with plans for them to depart on October 17, just weeks before Election Day.
In another alarming message, Tawhedi hinted that the attack would take place shortly after his family had safely returned to Afghanistan: “After that, we will begin our duty, God willing, with the help of God, we will get ready for the election day.”
The revelation that Tawhedi had once worked as a security guard for the CIA in Afghanistan shocked many, raising questions about his path to radicalization. According to NBC News reporters Dan De Luce and Courtney Kube, the FBI is investigating whether Tawhedi was radicalized before his arrival in the U.S. or after he entered the country under humanitarian parole in 2021. His arrest has intensified concerns about the vetting process for Afghan refugees admitted to the U.S. after the chaotic withdrawal.
Tawhedi entered the U.S. on September 9, 2021, just weeks after the fall of Kabul and the hurried evacuation of thousands of Afghan nationals. He was one of the many refugees admitted under Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) or humanitarian parole, part of a broader effort to protect Afghans who had worked with the U.S. government or faced threats from the Taliban.
However, the Biden administration’s handling of the evacuation has faced significant criticism, particularly regarding the vetting process for those brought into the country. In the early days of the evacuation, reports emerged that some Afghan nationals were allowed to board flights to the U.S. without proper identification or vetting. In many cases, individuals with proper documentation were left behind, while the Taliban reportedly took control of vetting at the Kabul airport.
The concerns about vetting were further amplified by an Inspector General’s report in September 2022, which confirmed that many Afghan refugees were not adequately screened before being resettled in the U.S. Tawhedi’s case highlights the risks of those failures, with critics arguing that dangerous individuals were allowed into the country without the necessary safeguards.
Tawhedi’s plot has added fuel to ongoing debates over immigration and national security, particularly regarding the Biden administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. Conservative commentators have been quick to seize on the incident, pointing to the potential dangers posed by the influx of unvetted refugees. The arrest comes at a politically sensitive time, with Election Day fast approaching and concerns about domestic security on the rise.
Fox News and other outlets have reported extensively on Tawhedi’s background and his prior employment as a CIA security guard. His connection to the agency, coupled with his radicalization and alleged terror plot, has raised questions about the extent of security clearances for individuals working with U.S. agencies abroad and the effectiveness of the screening process.
Tawhedi’s entry into the U.S. as one of the refugees from the Biden administration’s evacuation efforts has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents. The Gateway Pundit, among other outlets, pointed to the Biden administration’s decision to allow thousands of unvetted individuals to enter the country, claiming that this failure jeopardized national security. Many have also cited the broader implications for U.S. refugee policies, urging tighter controls and more thorough background checks for those entering the country.
As Tawhedi awaits trial, the FBI continues to investigate the extent of his terrorist connections and whether others were involved in the plot. Authorities are working to determine whether additional threats are looming ahead of Election Day and how best to mitigate the risks posed by radicalized individuals on U.S. soil.
For now, Tawhedi’s arrest serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges involved in safeguarding national security while managing humanitarian crises. His case will likely remain a central focus of debates about immigration, terrorism, and the U.S. response to international instability for months to come.
