The terrorist was allegedly involved in the planning of the bombing during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
Trump Commends Pakistan for Arresting Terrorist Linked to 2021 Kabul Airport Attack. United States (US) President Donald Trump announced Tuesday the arrest of “top terrorist” involved in the 2021 bombing at Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate in Afghanistan.
While addressing a joint session of Congress, President Trump expressed gratitude to Pakistan’s government for apprehending Mohammad Sharifullah, who killed 13 US service members and at least 170 Afghan civilians in the Abbey Gate attack.
The terrorist was allegedly involved in the planning of the bombing during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
“Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice,” Trump said in his joint address to Congress.
In his speech, the POTUS praised the Pakistani government for helping arrest this “monster” and added that it was “a very huge day for the affected families.”
“Pakistan acted on CIA intelligence that led to the arrest of Sharifullah, according to another source familiar with the matter,” he said.
PM Shehbaz thanks POTUS
In return, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked US President for “acknowledging and appreciating Pakistan’s role and support in counterterrorism efforts in Afghanistan.”
In a statement shared on X, the premier said Pakistan will continue to partner closely with the United States in securing regional peace and stability, without providing more detail on the operation to apprehend Sharifullah.
The Prime Minister said, “Pakistan has always played a critical role in counter terrorism efforts aimed at denying safe havens to terrorists and militant groups the space to operate against any other country.”
“Pakistan remains steadfast in its resolve and unwavering commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
In this effort, he said Pakistan has rendered great sacrifices including the lives of over eighty thousand of our brave soldiers and citizens.
Shehbaz Sharif said the resolve of our leadership and people remains unflinching to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country.
FBI investigates terrorist
Sharifullah was charged in the Eastern District of Virginia with providing and conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization resulting in death, according to an indictment unsealed late Tuesday.
He was interviewed by FBI agents on Sunday, where he told them he was recruited in 2016 into ISIS-K, a branch of ISIS. In the interview, Shariffullah “admitted to supporting and conducting activities on behalf of ISIS-K in support of multiple lethal attacks,” according to the indictment.
Sharifullah, who is also known as “Jafar,” according to the court documents, was in prison from 2019 until two weeks before the Abbey Gate attack. When he was released, he was contacted by ISIS members for assistance in the attack.
“Sharifullah was tasked with scouting a route near (Hamid Karzai International Airport) HKIA for an attacker. Sharifullah conducted surveillance on a route, specifically checking for law enforcement and American or Taliban checkpoints,” the court documents state.
“Sharifullah communicated to other ISIS-K members that he believed the route was clear and that he did not think the attacker would be detected while proceeding through that route.”
ISIS members instructed him to leave the area around the airport, the court documents state. “Later that same day, Sharifullah learned of the attack at HKIA described above and recognized the alleged bomber as an ISIS-K operative he had known while incarcerated.”
