ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the person responsible for killing 13 US service members during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 had been arrested with the help of Pakistan and was now on his way to the United States to face justice.
The 2021 Abbey Gate bombing killed 13 US service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The militant Islamic State (IS) group had claimed responsibility for the killings.
Trump shared the news in his first address to Congress since returning to the White House for a second term. “Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity, and he is on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice,” the US president told the Congress. In a rare public gesture of appreciation, Trump thanked Islamabad for its role in the capture, saying: “I want to thank especially the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster.” Trump emphasized his personal connection with the US victims’ families, stating: “I spoke to many of the parents and loved ones, and they’re all in our hearts tonight. Just spoke to them on phone. We had a big call. Everyone called, and everybody was on the line, and they did nothing but cry with happiness.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the US president for acknowledging and appreciating Pakistan’s role and support in counterterrorism efforts across the region in the context of Pakistan security forces’ recent apprehension of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) top tier operational commander Shareefullah.
In a post on his X handle, he said the wanted terrorist, an Afghan national, was apprehended in a successful operation conducted in Pak-Afghan border region.
The prime minister said Pakistan will continue to partner closely with the United States in securing regional peace and stability.
Pakistan has always played a critical role in counter terrorism efforts aimed at denying safe havens to terrorists and militant groups the space to operate against any other country, Shehbaz Sharif said.
He said Pakistan remained steadfast in its resolve and unwavering commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
In this effort, he said Pakistan had rendered great sacrifices, including the lives of our over 80,000 brave soldiers and citizens. Shehbaz said the resolve of our leadership and people remained unflinching to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country.
Immediately after US President Trump Wednesday thanked Pakistan for handing over an Afghan terrorist behind the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan, the United States reached out officially to Islamabad for the first time.
US National Security Adviser Michael John Glen Waltz Tuesday telephoned Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and conveyed President Trump’s appreciation and thanks for the Government of Pakistan’s efforts for countering terrorism, said the Foreign Office.
The telephone call came a day before President Trump’s announcement and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s tweet both on Wednesday morning.
Michael Waltz, an American politician, businessman, author, and former army Special Forces officer, is the 29th and current national security adviser under President Donald Trump. He previously served as US representative for Florida’s 6th congressional district from 2019 to 2025.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in IT, energy and mineral sectors. They also agreed on the need to have continued dialogues on trade, investment, climate change and health as part of a broad-based agenda in the days to come,” added the Foreign Office.
“The deputy prime minister/foreign minister congratulated the NSA on his assumption of office and reiterated that Pakistan looked forward to building on its longstanding and broad-based relationship with the United States under President Trump and his Administration,” it said.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continuing its cooperation with the US in the field of counter terrorism and also appreciated President Trump’s announcement to withdraw the US military equipment left behind in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has also previously pointed to this equipment which it blames the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is using against it. The interim government in Kabul acknowledges that they are in possession of these weapons.
Fox Business reports: Talking to Fox, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said he along with the FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Director Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard received the wanted person at the airport.
Ratcliffe said one of the first things that President Trump told him soon after he had assumed his office as the CIA Director was to find the people responsible for the Abbey Gate tragedy and make it a top priority. He said the Biden administration did not hold anyone accountable for the incident leading to the death of 13 US officials.
The CIA director said it was his second day at the CIA Headquarters when he spoke to the Pakistani intelligence agency chief (Lt. Gen. Asim Malik) and shared intelligence with him that the wanted person (Sharifullah) was located in the Pak-Afghan border region.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a telephone call reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation across all sectors. Pakistan and the UAE share close diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties, strengthened by historical connections and a large Pakistani expatriate community in the Emirates. “The UAE is also one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners in the Middle East and a major source of remittances, with thousands of Pakistanis working in various sectors. Both countries collaborate on defence, energy, and investment projects, with the UAE frequently providing financial aid and humanitarian assistance to Pakistan,” said the Foreign Office.
The two leaders also discussed the results of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zahid Al Nahyan’s recent visit to Pakistan, where the two countries signed five accords of cooperation.