Arrested suspect for bombing: which means for relations in the US-Pakistan | ISIL/ISIS News
Islamabad, Pakistan – The President of the United States Donald Trump revealed during his Address to the congress On Tuesday night, the Afghan citizen, allegedly involved in the planning of a deadly bombing in August 2021 at the Kabul airport, was arrested with the help of Pakistan.
The attack happened as US forces assisted evacuation from the city after the Taliban Kabul.
In his first address to the Congress after taking his post for his second term, Trump referred to the Kabul airport explosion, calling him “the most unusual moment in the history of our country.”
“Tonight I am glad to announce that we have just captured the top terrorist responsible for the crime, and he is currently on his way to face the fast sword of American justice. And I want to thank the Government of Pakistan in particular for helping the arrest of this monster,” the US president said on Monday night.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement, thanked Trump for “respecting the role and support of Pakistan in efforts against terrorism throughout the region.”
He confirmed that Mohammad Sharifullah, Commander of the Isil (ISIS) branch in Khorasan (ISKP), was an Afghan national trapped in surgery conducted in the border region of Pakistan-Afghanistan.
“As well -known, Pakistan has always played a critical role in efforts against terrorism that have been focused on denying safe havens with terrorists and militant groups of space to work against any other country,” Sharif wrote in a message about X, a social media platform, using a different spelling for allegedly a master bombing.
We thank us President Donald Trump for acknowledging and appreciating the role and support of Pakistan in the efforts against terrorism throughout the region, in the context of the recent understanding of the highest operational commanders of ISKP, Iskp, Shareefulh, who … who is … is …
– Shehbaz Sharif (@cmshehbaz) March 5, 2025
Development comes the day after a bombing In the Pakistani northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he killed 12 civilians. Last week, another Explosion of suicide bombs In the mosque in the same province, she killed at least four people, and many doubt the participation of ISKP.
What is the bombing of the Opatija door at the Kabul airport?
While the Taliban took over Kabul on August 15, 2021, the US authorities set the deadline on August 31 for the evacuation of all American troops stationed in Afghanistan for the last 20 years.
However, on August 26, while thousands of Afghans asked for escape from Kabul, a suicide bombing at the entrance point of the airport known as Abbey Gate, killed almost 200 people, including 13 US soldiers.
A Subsequent American investigation revealed that the bomber, identified as Abdul Rahman Al-Glogari, was a member of ISKP since 2016. He was one of thousands of members of the ISKP who liberated the Taliban after being seized in August 2021 in August 2021.
Three days after Opatija’s attack, US forces launched a strike of an unmanned aircraft in Central Kabul, allegedly aiming to the ISKP commander.
However, the rocket killed at least 10 civilians, including seven children. Initially, they now claimed that she had successfully eliminated her goal, but later admitted that it was a mistake and issued an apology.
Who is Sharifullah and how was he arrested?
While Prime Minister Sharif revealed that the arrested individual was an Afghan citizen, he did not give details about how the surgery was carried out.
The Government source said Al Jazeera that surgery showed a “strong collaboration” between American and Pakistani security institutions in efforts against terrorism.
The source further revealed that the safety forces of Pakistani began to follow Sharifullah after receiving intelligence a few days ago.
“He was arrested at the end of February near the border with Pakistan -Afghanistan in surgery exclusively conducted Pakistani security agencies. He was later extradited to the United States for the Law on Procedure,” said the Government Source.
“Sharfulullah’s arrest also proves that Pakistan’s position that Afghanistan was a focal point of terrorism is absolutely correct,” the source added, saying anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly.
Pakistan has long criticized the Taliban government for failing to suppress the presence of armed groups on Afghan soil, which launched attacks within the Pakistani territory. The Afghan government consistently denied these accusations.
According to the US News Outlet CNN, CIA director John Ratcliffe raised the issue during his first phone call with Pakistan’s Chief, General Asim Malik, shortly after he assumed his duty.
Sharifullah, also known for Alias Jafar, arrived in the United States early Wednesday morning. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed his arrival. “Terrorist Jafar is officially in American custody,” he said.
That time you brought the sword of justice for the American people- Thanks for the incredible leadership @Agpamdonda and @JohnratCliffe . So proud of men and women of FBI, Doj -ai Cia -e.
Justice for Abby Gate -terorist Jafar officially in American detention pic.twitter.com/en1wjwjzcw
– Kash patel (@kash_patel) March 5, 2025
What does this arrest mean to Pakistan relationships-now?
With the interest of the American for the region and Pakistani ties with China – the primary geopolitical rival of Washington – growing, the relationship between the two nations has remained lukewarm in recent years.
However, Maleeha Lodhi, former Ambassador of Pakistan in the United States, believes that surgery signals that cooperation against terrorism between the two countries remains strong.
“Despite the lack of sufficient engagement at the political level, the military to military relationships are still strong, which has long been the case in this relationship with roll,” she told Al Jazeera.
Qamar Cheem, an expert in international affairs and the Executive Director of the Islamabad Institute with headquarters in Islamabad, reiterated this opinion.
“It is important to realize that now he looks at Afghanistan through the Pakistani lens. The Pakistan’s view is that an illegal weapon in Afghanistan in Afghanistan use armed groups to perform attacks in Pakistan and the region, “he told Al Jazeera.
“Officers from both countries believe that they have to work together to maintain regional stability. This surgery shows that there is clarity in the US administration about the importance of Pakistan – something that was less visible during the previous Biden administration, “Cheema added.
However, Lodhi, who was also a Pakistani ambassador to the United Kingdom and the United Nations, believes that the Pakistan-US spreads widening should be reset, because it was at a low point from the US withdrawal from Afghanistan 2021.
“What this latest development shows is that cooperation continues in the narrow width of the belt and has yet to find a broader basis. Pakistan is not on Trump’s list of priorities on foreign policy, but the arrest and Trump’s gratitude gives Pakistan the opportunity to explore how the relationship can be restored and redefined, “she said.
“But it is important not to overestimate the importance of this arrest for Pakistan-US relations, which need great resetting.”
