Pakistan has arrested Mohammad Sharifullah, a senior ISIS commander alleged to have plotted the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul’s international airport. The operation was conducted based on intelligence provided by the CIA, according to U.S. officials.
Pakistan has arrested ISIS commander Mohammad Sharifullah, accused of plotting the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul.
— British Pakistani Index (@PakistaniIndex) March 5, 2025
The arrest was based on CIA intelligence. Trump thanked the Pakistani government for its cooperation. Sharifullah is being extradited.#Pakistan #AbbeyGate pic.twitter.com/uYNV9i2CUE
President Donald Trump announced the arrest during his address to Congress, stating that Sharifullah, also known as “Jafar,” is being extradited to the United States. Trump thanked the Pakistani government for its cooperation in capturing the suspect.
Sharifullah is accused of coordinating the attack that killed 13 U.S. service members and approximately 170 Afghan citizens during the U.S. military’s evacuation from Afghanistan on August 26, 2021. U.S. officials describe him as a high-value target who has been under surveillance for years.
In April 2023, the Taliban reportedly killed another senior ISIS-K leader believed to have authorized the Abbey Gate attack. However, the Biden administration did not disclose his identity at the time.
The arrest follows a directive from President Trump to newly appointed CIA Director John Ratcliffe to prioritize capturing those responsible for the bombing. Ratcliffe raised the issue in his first discussions with Pakistani intelligence officials, including a meeting with Lt. Gen. Asim Malik at the Munich Security Conference.
The CIA received recent intelligence pinpointing Sharifullah’s location near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistani intelligence forces carried out the operation, apprehending him and notifying U.S. officials ten days ago.
Following his capture, CIA Director Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel coordinated with the Department of Justice on Sharifullah’s extradition, working directly with Pakistani intelligence officials. The suspect is expected to arrive in the U.S. on Wednesday, where an indictment against him will be unsealed.
The cooperation between U.S. and Pakistani intelligence agencies in this operation marks a potential shift after years of strained relations. Officials view Sharifullah’s arrest as an indication that Pakistan is willing to reengage with the Trump administration on intelligence and counterterrorism efforts.