The bombing occurred during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover, where the US military was facilitating evacuations.
Wwa, remarking on the Kabul airport blast, which he deemed “the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country,” stated the capture of “the top terrorist responsible” and thanked Pakistan for its help.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged Trump’s appreciation for Pakistan’s role in counterterrorism efforts and confirmed the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, an ISKP commander, an Afghan national apprehended on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
“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,” Sharif stated.
A bombing in northwestern Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and a suicide bomb attack at a mosque killed multiple civilians last month, with ISKP suspected in the latter incident.
What was the Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul airport?
With the Taliban taking control of Kabul on August 15, 2021, American forces evacuated Afghanistan within a month. On August 26, a suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate entry point killed 13 US soldiers and nearly 200 people.
A US investigation later revealed the bomber, Abdul Rahman al-Logari, was an ISKP member who joined forces after the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. Following the attack, a US drone strike killed at least 10 civilians by mistake, including children.
About 200 people, including 13 American soldiers, were killed in a suicide bomb attack at the Kabul airport in August 2021 [File: Wali Sabawoon/AP Photo]
Who Is Sharifullah, and how was he arrested?
Although Prime Minister Sharif disclosed the apprehended individual’s national identity without providing further details, government sources say the operation reflected strong counterterrorism cooperation between the US and Pakistan.
Pakistani security forces captured Sharifullah after receiving intelligence from the US. Captured in late February near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, he was extradited to the US. The source also noted that Sharifullah’s arrest confirms Pakistan’s stance that Afghanistan is a hotbed of terrorism.
Pakistan has consistently accused the Taliban government of harboring armed groups behind attacks in Pakistan.
The CIA’s Director John Ratcliffe raised this matter during his first phone call with Pakistan’s intelligence chief shortly after taking office.
Sharifullah arrived in the US on Wednesday morning and is now in FBI custody. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed his arrival, stating, “Jafar the terrorist is officially in US custody.”
President Donald Trump, in his address to the US Congress, thanked Pakistan for its cooperation in the arrest of an individual suspected of involvement in the August 2021 Kabul airport bombing, March 4, 2025. [Win McNamee/AFP]
What does this arrest mean for Pakistan-US relations?
Despite a cool relationship in recent years due to the US’s pivot from the region and Pakistan’s growing ties with China, Maleeha Lodhi, former Pakistan ambassador to the US, believes counterterrorism cooperation remains strong.
Qamar Cheema, an international affairs expert, agrees the US views Afghanistan through a Pakistani lens and feels officials from both nations recognize the need for collaboration to maintain regional stability.
“Pakistan is not on Trump’s foreign policy priority list, but this arrest and Trump’s gratitude to Pakistan should open the door for both countries to rebuild and redefine their relationship,” Lodhi stated. “However, let’s not exaggerate the importance of this particular arrest in terms of Pakistan-US relations and the need for a major reset.”
