The trial of Mohammad Sharifullah, accused of involvement in the 2021 Kabul airport attack, began on Monday in Virginia, United States. However, his defense lawyer stated that U.S. authorities have charged the wrong person in connection with the attack.
The attack occurred during the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021 at Kabul airport, where, according to reports, around 160 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were killed.
Sharifullah is accused of scouting the route for the suicide bomber before the attack, but according to the Associated Press, one of his lawyers said he had no role in planning the attack.
The report states that the trial began yesterday (Monday) and is expected to last about a week.
Defense lawyer Jeremy Kamens said in his opening statement: “The U.S. government has the wrong man, and that’s why we are proud to defend Mohammad Sharifullah in this trial.”
U.S. Justice Department prosecutor John Gibbs said that Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, told FBI agents he joined ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan Province) in 2016; however, he denied involvement in planning the Kabul airport attack.
However, Kamens said that the Afghan national may have made a false confession under pressure while in custody in Pakistan.
He added: “The Pakistanis wanted him to confess, and their intelligence services torture people.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump had announced on March 4, 2025 (14 Hoot 1403), that the U.S., in cooperation with Pakistan, had arrested an individual in connection with the 2021 Kabul airport attack.
At the time, media identified the individual as Mohammad Sharifullah.
