Mohammad Sharifullah, an Islamic State Khorasan (ISK) operative linked to the deadly 2021 Kabul airport bombing, stepped into a Virginia courtroom on March 5, 2025.
The Sharifullah Kabul Bombing suspect confessed to scouting the Abbey Gate route for the suicide blast that killed 13 US troops and 170 Afghans amid the chaotic US withdrawal, the Justice Department revealed. Captured by Pakistan and extradited, his arrest marks a breakthrough.
PHOTO: Mohammad Sharifullah, alleged co-conspirator in the murder of American soldiers at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan, apprehended and extradited last night — wheels down to face American justice.
Thank you to our great partners @AGPamBondi, @JohnRatcliffe, @DNIGabbard, and brave… pic.twitter.com/uZnKYz5waV
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) March 5, 2025Sharifullah appeared in Alexandria, near Washington, DC, wearing blue prison garb and a black mask. Assigned a public defender and Dari interpreter, he didn’t plead, with his next hearing set for Monday. Charged with “providing material support to a terrorist group resulting in death,” he faces life in prison if convicted.
The judge ordered him held in custody. President Donald Trump, in a Tuesday congressional address, hailed him as “the top terrorist” nabbed with Pakistan’s aid.
Mohammad Sharifullah, accused of helping plot the 2021 bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members during the Afghanistan withdrawal, appeared in federal court after being arrested in Pakistan. CBS News’ @MacFarlaneNews reports from the courtroom. https://t.co/9EloL6fhJT pic.twitter.com/XxtLYQsSki
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) March 6, 2025The Kabul Plot Unraveled
The Justice Department’s affidavit details Sharifullah—aka Jafar—clearing the bomber’s path with ISK-supplied phone and SIM card. “He gave the go-ahead, then learned of the blast,” it states, noting he recognized the bomber from prison ties. The August 26, 2021, attack rocked Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) as crowds fled Taliban rule. Sharifullah also admitted aiding other ISK strikes, including the 2024 Moscow Crocus Hall massacre, training attackers via video on AK rifles.
Read: Kabul Airport Bombing Suspect Sharifullah Lands in US
The Sharifullah Kabul Bombing case revives a dark chapter, 183 lives lost, now one step closer to justice. Trump’s “monster” tag and Pakistan’s role amplify the stakes.
