Monitoring Desk
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that the mastermind behind the deadly 2021 Kabul airport bombing had been arrested with Pakistan’s assistance and was en route to the United States to face justice.
During his address to Congress, Trump lauded Pakistan’s role in the arrest, stating, “I want to thank especially the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster.”
Mastermind of Deadly Attack Caught
The August 26, 2021, attack at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport killed 13 US service members and around 170 Afghan civilians during the chaotic withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. The militant group Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) had claimed responsibility for the bombing.
In April 2023, the White House had stated that Afghan Taliban forces had killed the attack’s mastermind, identified as a key leader of IS-K. However, a new development emerged when US officials revealed that Mohammad Sharifullah, an alleged planner of the attack, had been apprehended and was being extradited to the US.
Pakistan’s Role in the Arrest
According to CNN, Pakistan acted on intelligence provided by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which led to Sharifullah’s capture. Trump’s CIA Director, John Ratcliffe, reportedly raised the issue in his first phone call with Pakistan’s intelligence chief upon assuming office.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the suspect’s extradition, stating that the Justice Department, FBI, and CIA would take him into custody upon arrival.
“We hope this brings some closure to the families of the 13 American heroes lost at Abbey Gate. We will continue to bring those who harm Americans to swift and decisive justice,” Bondi wrote on X.
The arrest marks a significant counterterrorism success for the US and highlights Pakistan’s cooperation in combating global terrorism.
