Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – An Islamic State operative allegedly responsible for planning the 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport during the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan has been arrested, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday. The attack, which killed 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. troops, marked one of the deadliest moments of the evacuation as crowds desperately tried to flee the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul.
In his first address to Congress since returning to the White House, Trump credited Pakistan for assisting in the arrest of the suspect, identified as Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as Jafar. Sharifullah, a leader of the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan, is expected to appear in a Virginia court on Wednesday. He faces charges of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization resulting in death.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, Sharifullah admitted to FBI agents that he helped prepare for the airport attack, including scouting a route near the airport for the bomber. He also confessed to involvement in other attacks, including the March 2024 Moscow Crocus City Hall massacre, where he allegedly provided instructions on using weapons to attackers.
“This evil ISIS-K terrorist orchestrated the brutal murder of 13 heroic Marines,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.
Trump used the announcement to criticize his predecessor, Joe Biden, for overseeing what he called a “disastrous and incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan.” He also thanked Pakistan for its role in capturing Sharifullah, calling him “a monster.”
The Kabul airport bombing occurred during the final days of the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021, as tens of thousands of Afghans rushed to the airport in hopes of escaping the Taliban’s return to power. The chaotic scenes, including people clinging to departing U.S. military planes, were broadcast worldwide, symbolizing the turmoil of the withdrawal.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for acknowledging Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts, vowing to continue partnering with the U.S. to secure regional peace. However, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain high, with Islamabad accusing the Taliban government of harboring militants who launch attacks across the border. The Taliban denied the allegations, claiming Sharifullah’s arrest proves IS-K operates from Pakistani soil.
Analysts suggest Pakistan is leveraging U.S. concerns about terrorism in Afghanistan to rebuild security ties. “Pakistan’s help catching the Abbey Gate attack plotter should be seen in this context,” said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at The Wilson Center.
The arrest comes as IS-K continues to pose a significant threat, carrying out attacks in Afghanistan and beyond, including a bombing in Iran last year that killed over 90 people. The U.S. has vowed to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on its forces and allies, even as it navigates complex relationships in the region.
