Pakistan recently detained a senior ISIS commander, Mohammad Sharifullah, who is accused of masterminding the deadly Abbey Gate bombing during the U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan in 2021. The attack killed 13 U.S. service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians.
According to U.S. officials, Sharifullah, one of the leaders of an ISIS branch in Afghanistan and Pakistan, was apprehended based on CIA intelligence. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the arrest in his address to Congress, expressing gratitude to the Pakistani government for its cooperation.
Sharifullah, also known as “Jafar,” is currently being extradited to the U.S., where he is expected to face charges related to the bombing. He is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on Wednesday, with an indictment expected to be unsealed shortly.
A U.S. official described Sharifullah as the “mastermind” behind the attack, which took place outside Kabul’s international airport on August 26, 2021. His capture has been a priority for U.S. intelligence agencies for years.
In addition, the U.S. previously announced the death of another senior ISIS-K leader in April 2023, who was believed to have authorized the Abbey Gate attack.
The CIA has been monitoring Sharifullah’s movements for some time and received actionable intelligence about his location in recent days. The Pakistani Intelligence Service successfully captured him near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, with cooperation from U.S. intelligence agencies.
This operation marks a significant step in U.S.-Pakistan intelligence cooperation, following years of strained relations between the two countries’ intelligence agencies. U.S. officials view Sharifullah’s detention as a sign of Pakistan’s willingness to re-engage with the U.S. on intelligence and counterterrorism efforts.
