Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed gratitude to the Government of Pakistan for its cooperation in combating terrorism in Afghanistan. During his address—one of the longest speeches before Congress—Trump stated that the U.S. stands against extremist terrorism and is pleased that a key perpetrator of terrorism in Afghanistan has been arrested.
President Trump specifically thanked Pakistan, stating that its assistance made this arrest possible. He recalled that three and a half years ago, ISIS killed 13 Americans in Afghanistan, and now, the terrorist responsible is being brought to the U.S. to face justice.
The U.S. President criticized the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, calling it highly disgraceful. He warned that this decision could negatively impact America’s position and security policy. He emphasized the need for action against elements involved in terrorist conspiracies during the withdrawal.
A Western news agency claimed that Pakistan arrested ISIS commander Muhammad Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, based on intelligence provided by its security agencies. Sharifullah was allegedly involved in the 2021 Kabul airport attack, which killed 13 U.S. soldiers and 170 Afghan civilians.
With the assistance of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Sharifullah was apprehended and is now being transferred to the United States. U.S. officials stated that he was the mastermind behind the terrorist plot at Abbey Gate, Kabul airport, on August 26, 2021.
President Trump had instructed CIA Director John Ratcliffe to prioritize the arrest of individuals involved in terrorist activities. In this regard, discussions were held with senior Pakistani security officials during the Munich Security Conference in February. When asked for a response, the Pakistani embassy declined to comment on the matter.
