An alleged operative of the Islamic State (IS) involved in the 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul airport, during the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, appeared in a Virginia court on Wednesday.
According to the Justice Department, Mohammad Sharifullah admitted to scouting the route to Kabul airport prior to the attack, which left 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. service members dead. The detonation occurred at the Abbey Gate, where thousands were attempting to flee days after the Taliban’s capture of Kabul.
Sharifullah was brought to court in Alexandria, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., wearing light blue prison attire and a black face mask. He was assigned a public defender and had access to an interpreter during the proceedings. He did not enter a plea and will remain in custody until his next court appearance on March 10.
Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, is identified by U.S. officials as a member of the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K), the branch of IS operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He was detained by Pakistani authorities and subsequently extradited to the United States.
President Donald Trump announced Sharifullah’s capture during a televised address, describing him as “the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity.”
Court documents reveal that IS-K operatives provided Sharifullah with a cellphone and SIM card, tasking him to confirm a safe route to the airport. Once he reported the route was clear, he was ordered to leave the area. Later that day, Sharifullah learned about the attack and identified the suicide bomber as an IS-K member he had encountered previously while incarcerated.
Sharifullah faces charges of “providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization resulting in death.”
Trump expressed his gratitude to Islamabad for its role in apprehending the ISIS-K figure identified as a “monster.”
“This vile ISIS-K terrorist was responsible for orchestrating the brutal killing of 13 heroic Marines,” US Attorney General Pam Bondi stated in an official release.
According to the Justice Department, Sharifullah admitted to participating in multiple attacks, including the March 2024 Moscow Crocus City Hall siege. He disclosed that he had instructed would-be attackers via video on using AK-style rifles and other weapons.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for acknowledging Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan. Posting on X, he pledged to “continue partnering closely with the United States” to address shared security concerns.
