Pakistan has underscored its renewed counterterrorism cooperation with the United States following the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, a key suspect in the 2021 Kabul airport attack that killed 170 Afghans and 13 US troops. The arrest was made during a military operation along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan.
The announcement came just hours after US President Donald Trump, in a speech to Congress, thanked Pakistan for its role in capturing Sharifullah, confirming that the suspect was en route to the US to face justice. FBI Director Kash Patel later verified that Sharifullah was in US custody, sharing a photo of agents with the plane transporting him.
Pakistan acknowledges US recognition
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed appreciation for the US acknowledgement of the country’s counterterrorism efforts. “We will continue to partner closely with the United States in securing regional peace and stability,” Sharif stated.
Sharif described Sharifullah as an Afghan national and a senior commander of ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan). “We thank US President Donald Trump for acknowledging and appreciating Pakistan’s role and support in counterterrorism efforts,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, held discussions with US National Security Adviser Mike Walsh, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening ties with Washington under Trump’s administration.
Shifting diplomatic relations
The arrest comes amid evolving US-Pakistan relations, which have been strained since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistan has faced accusations of covertly supporting the Taliban regime, a claim it strongly denies. While Islamabad’s ties with Washington have weakened, India—Pakistan’s regional rival—has expanded its influence with the US.
Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, remarked, “This is a significant development, given that US-Pakistan ties have remained unsettled since the US exit from Afghanistan.”
A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Sharifullah’s arrest was part of broader counterterrorism efforts in collaboration with Washington. “Excellent cooperation has been established between Pakistan and President Trump’s new government,” the official stated.
The US Justice Department confirmed that Sharifullah had been captured with assistance from the CIA and FBI, although it did not explicitly mention Pakistan’s role. He has been charged with “providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources” to ISIS-K.
Defence analyst Ayesha Siddiqa noted that Islamabad is leveraging security concerns to strengthen its ties with Washington. “Pakistan is using counterterrorism cooperation as a means to engage with Trump, who otherwise has no strategic interest in Pakistan,” she observed.
(With Reuters inputs)