Officials with the U.S. Department of State are pausing visa issuance for travelers with Afghan passports, the news coming after two National Guardsmen were violently attacked in Washington, DC, on Wednesday.

In a social media post Friday afternoon, the agency said , “The Department of State has IMMEDIATELY paused visa issuance for individuals traveling on Afghan passports. The Department is taking all necessary steps to protect U.S. national security and public safety.”

The suspect in the shooting has been identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who is an Afghan national, per Breitbart News.

On Thursday, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro identified the two West Virginia National Guardsmen who were targeted as 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-

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