Islamabad (Web Desk/Agencies): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has thanked United Staes (US) President Donald Trump for acknowledging and appreciating Pakistan's role and support in counter terrorism 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, the premier said that the wanted terrorist, an Afghan national, was apprehended in a successful operation conducted in Pakistan-Afghan border region.
PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan will continue to partner closely with the US in securing regional peace and stability.
“As is well-known, 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,” the premier asserted.
He said that Pakistan remained steadfast in its resolve and unwavering commitment to combating terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, having rendered great sacrifices, including the lives of over 80,000 of its brave soldiers and citizens in this effort.
“The resolve of our leadership and our people remains unflinching, to eradicate the menace of terrorism from our country. We will continue to partner closely with the United States in securing regional peace and stability,” PM Shehbaz assured.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump, in his first address to Congress since returning to the White House for a second term, revealed that 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.
“Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity…I want to thank especially the government of Pakistan for helping arrest this monster,” Trump said, adding that this was a very momentous day for the 13 families he got to know very well, whose children were murdered on that fateful day.
The Abbey Gate bombing occurred during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, an event that Trump has continued to criticize as a failure of the Biden administration.
The attack on August 26, 2021, was carried out by two suicide bombers and gunmen, targeting crowds of Afghans at Kabul's airport during the tumultuous evacuation, killing 170 Afghan civilians and 13 US soldiers tasked with securing the airport for the departure.
In April 2023, the White House reported that Taliban forces in Afghanistan had killed the mastermind behind the attack, identifying him as a "key" figure in IS-Khorasan (IS-K).
According to American media, the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as "Jafar," was made possible by close collaboration between the CIA and Pakistan’s intelligence agencies.
Sharifullah, who was a senior IS-K commander, was captured near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border after the CIA provided accurate intelligence on his whereabouts.
He is accused of orchestrating and overseeing the Abbey Gate bombing, making him a high-priority target for US counterterrorism efforts.
