U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday thanked the Government of Pakistan for helping apprehend a terrorist allegedly involved in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing.
“Three-and-a-half years ago, a [Daesh] terrorist killed 13 American service members and countless others in the Abbey Gate bombing,” Trump said during an address to a joint Congressional session. The attack came as the U.S. was withdrawing from Kabul, with Trump having earlier blamed Joe Biden for his “disastrous and incompetent” exit.
“Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity,” said Trump. “And he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice,” he added. He then thanked Pakistan for helping apprehend the “monster,” adding it was “a very huge day for the affected families.”
In a statement posted on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the U.S. president for “acknowledging and appreciating Pakistan’s role and support in counter-terrorism efforts across the region.” Identifying the apprehended individual as “top tier operational commander Shareefullah,” he said the accused was an Afghan national.
“The wanted terrorist was apprehended in a successful operation conducted in Pakistan-Afghan border region,” he said.
Stressing that Pakistan had always played a critical role in counter-terrorism efforts, the prime minister maintained that the country remains “steadfast in our resolve and unwavering commitment to combating terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations.”
Recalling that Pakistan had suffered the loss of over 80,000 of our brave soldiers and citizens due to the terrorism, Sharif vowed that the incumbent leadership was committed to eradicating the menace. “We will continue to partner closely with the United States in securing regional peace and stability,” he added.
According to CNN, Trump had directed CIA Director John Ratcliffe to prioritize the capture of those responsible for the Abbey Gate bombing. It reported that Ratcliffe had raised the matter with senior Pakistani officials just a day after taking office and followed up on that conversation with a high-ranking Pakistani security official at the Munich Security Conference in February.
Pakistan’s aid to the U.S. in apprehending the suspected terrorist—and Trump’s expression of gratitude—appear to reinforce the longstanding military-to-military relationship between the two countries and negate an impression from opposition parties that Trump would speak on their behalf.
Traditionally, Pak-U.S. ties have always revolved around Islamabad’s military and intelligence apparatus, not the civilian government. Pak-U.S. ties often peaking under military regimes and suffering when civilian leaders are in power in Islamabad support this view.