US President Donald Trump has announced the arrest of Muhammad Sharifullah, the alleged mastermind behind the 2021 Kabul airport bombing that claimed the lives of 13 American service members and around 170 Afghan civilians during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The arrest, carried out with Pakistan’s cooperation, marks a major breakthrough in the fight against ISIS-K, the regional affiliate of Daesh. Sharifullah has been transferred to the United States to face justice.
President Trump, addressing Congress, expressed special gratitude to Pakistan for its role in the operation, saying:
“I want to thank, especially, the Pakistani government for helping arrest this monster.”
The capture of Sharifullah follows months of high-level intelligence cooperation between the US and Pakistan.
According to reports, US CIA Director John Ratcliffe prioritized the pursuit of those behind the attack after taking office, with key intelligence discussions taking place at the Munich Security Conference in February.
Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, was captured along the Pakistan-Afghan border region. Media reports suggest Pakistani authorities informed the US of the arrest 10 days before the public announcement.
The bombing at Kabul International Airport on August 26, 2021, was one of the deadliest attacks in the final days of America’s longest war, adding further tragedy to the already chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
