Washington (TDI): 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 apprehended 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 nearly 170 Afghan civilians during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The militant Islamic State (IS) group had claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Trump shared the news in his maiden address to Congress since returning to the White House for a second term.
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While he provided no further details, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif identified the terrorist as Sharifullah, a “top level operational commander” of the IS-KP chapter.
“Tonight, I am glad to announce that we have just arrested the top militant responsible for that attack, and he is on his way here to face the swift sword of US justice,” Trump told the Congress.
In a rare public gesture of appreciation, President Trump thanked Pakistan for its role in the capture, stating: “I want to thank especially the Pakistan government for helping arrest this monster.”
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz said in a post on X that the terrorist was an Afghan citizen.
He added, “The wanted terrorist was arrested in a successful operation conducted in Pakistan-Afghan border region.”
The prime minister thanked Trump for “acknowledging and appreciating Islamabad’s role and support in counter terrorism efforts across the region”.
“Pakistan has always played a major role in counterterrorism efforts to deny safe havens to militants and terrorist organizations the space to attack against any other nation,” he said.
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The prime minister pledged that Pakistan “will continue to partner closely with the US in securing regional peace and stability”.
