Let’s unravel the intriguing twist in this saga. The IS-KP operative, identified as the chief suspect in the Abbey Gate bombing and recently brought to the United States by the FBI to face justice on March 4, 2025, carries a complex past. Pay close attention to the turn of events here, as he is a recycled terrorist with a twisted past. In July 2019, this individual—Mohammad Sharifullah—was apprehended by the courageous and legitimate officers of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) under Afghanistan’s Republic government. His capture was publicly announced on July 15, 2019, marking a significant triumph for the NDS at the time. However, the Taliban, upon seizing control on August 15, 2021, released him from detention—an act that underscores their shared ideological roots with such extremists. Freed from custody, Sharifullah went on to orchestrate the devastating Abbey Gate bombing at Kabul airport on August 26, 2021, claiming numerous lives, including 13 U.S. service members, before fleeing to Pakistan by early September 2021. In Pakistan, Sharifullah was effectively “recycled”—a calculated move by Pakistani authorities who, on February 28, 2025, handed him over to the United States. This transfer provided a convenient headline for President Trump’s address to Congress on March 5, 2025, casting Pakistan as a cooperative ally in the fight against terrorism. It’s a scenario where every player seems to gain something: the U.S. secures a high-profile arrest, Pakistan burnishes its image, and the Taliban evade scrutiny for their role in his release. Yet, this raises troubling questions. Rather than pressing the Taliban to explain why they freed a known terrorist on August 16, 2021, the Biden administration instead funneled billions in aid to them between September 2021 and December 2024—while simultaneously declaring Sharifullah dead on April 10, 2023, a claim now proven false with his extradition. Pakistan, a master of strategic deception, has once again demonstrated its ability to manipulate narratives to its advantage. What’s truly remarkable is how effortlessly the United States falls into this trap, time and again, prioritizing short-term wins over a deeper reckoning with the forces at play.
Photos: Sharifullah in NDS custody. Sharifullah in FBI custody.
