Trump Announces Arrest of IS Militant Behind Kabul Airport Attack
US President, Donald Trump, announced on Tuesday that an Islamic State operative responsible for the 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul airport has been arrested.
The attack, which occurred during the chaotic US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, killed 170 Afghans and 13 US troops.
Trump made the announcement during his first address to Congress since returning to the White House for a second term. He thanked Pakistan for assisting in the arrest, saying the suspect was “on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.”
The suspect was identified by Pakistani sources as Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, a leader of the Islamic State branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 was marked by scenes of chaos and desperation at Kabul airport, as thousands of Afghans tried to flee the country.
The attack on the airport’s Abbey Gate was one of the deadliest incidents during the withdrawal, and was claimed by the Islamic State Khorasan, the regional chapter of the militant group.
Trump’s announcement was seen as a significant development in the effort to hold accountable those responsible for the attack. However, it also raised questions about the circumstances of the arrest and the role of Pakistan in the operation.