US President Donald Trump praised Pakistan for capturing a key Daesh commander tied to the 2021 Kabul Airport bombing.
In a record-breaking, hour-and-49-minute speech to Congress, the longest by any president, he announced, “We’ve just apprehended the top terrorist behind that atrocity, and he’s en route to face American justice.”
The Abbey Gate attack on August 26, 2021, ended America’s longest war in chaos, killing 13 US service members and about 170 Afghans fleeing Kabul post-Taliban takeover. Trump, now in his 47th term since January, called it “a momentous day” for the victims’ families, whom he knows personally. “What a horrible day that was,” he reflected, thanking Pakistan for nabbing the “monster” after a standing ovation.
During his address to Congress, US President @realDonaldTrump expressed gratitude towards the Pakistan Government @CMShehbaz for their role in facilitating the arrest of the #ISIS terrorist responsible for orchestrating the attack on US troops during their withdrawal from… pic.twitter.com/9yvjaiTCpY
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Who’s Behind Bars?
Reports name Muhammad Sharifullah, alias Jafar, as the arrested Daesh leader. Pakistan’s intelligence, acting on CIA tips, seized him, and he’s due in the US today, March 5. A US official pegged Sharifullah as the attack’s mastermind. Trump, per sources, tasked CIA Director John Ratcliffe with prioritizing this capture right after taking office, pushing talks with Pakistani officials at February’s Munich Security Conference. Pakistan’s embassy in Washington stayed mum when pressed for comment.
'America is back': @realDonaldTrump's opening lines at first address to Congress.
In his joint address to US Congress, President Donald Trump said his administration accomplished more in 43 days than what previous governments did in four years.#DonaldTrump #UnitedStates #News… pic.twitter.com/TlDPaAD1gF
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) March 5, 2025
Trump Blasts Biden’s Exit
Trump slammed Joe Biden’s “disastrous and incompetent” Afghan withdrawal, dubbing it “perhaps the most embarrassing moment” in US history. He clarified, “It’s not the withdrawal I criticize—it’s how they botched it.” Biden’s team had countered in 2023, blaming Trump’s prior decisions for tying their hands, though admitting delays worsened the chaos.
The Kabul Airport bombing suspect’s arrest marks a justice milestone, fueled by Pakistan-US teamwork.