Man behind Kabul airport attack arrested: Trump

KABUL (Pajhwok): The mastermind behind the 2021 attack on the Kabul airport has been apprehended with the help of Pakistan, US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday.

More than a dozen US troops and scores of Afghans had been killed and wounded in the suicide attack during the chaotic American withdrawal from Afghanistan four years ago.

American media outlets quoted President Trump as saying the US was moving a “top terrorist” involved in the bombing at Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate. At least 170 Afghan civilians had lost their lives in the assault.

Speaking to House of Representatives and Senate, Trump said: “I am very pleased to announce the arrest of the main perpetrator of the deadly attack on Kabul airport; this person is currently on his way to the US, where he will face justice.”

He thanked the government of Pakistan for helping the US in capturing the suspect. However, the US president did not go into details.

At that time, the Islamic State — also known as Daesh — had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Identified as Mohammad Sharifullah, the detainee was blamed for planning the attack and was being charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support for terrorism, CNN reported.

A source familiar with the matter told the broadcaster Pakistan acted on a CIA-provided tip-off that led to the arrest of Sharifullah.

Trump, who spoke to the families of the service members killed in the bombing, once again assailed his predecessor Joe Biden over the handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

aw/mud