On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed in his first address to Congress that the “senior terrorist responsible” for the 2021 attack on Kabul International Airport had been apprehended in Pakistan.
Following his statement, American media reported that Muhammad Sharifullah (commonly known as Jafar) was apprehended by Pakistani intelligence near the Afghanistan-Pakistan region after receiving intelligence from the CIA. In his speech, Trump stated that Pakistan had handed over Muhammad Sharif to U.S. authorities, and he would be prosecuted in the United States.
However, Al-Mirsaad, citing its sources, reports that Muhammad Sharif was not the mastermind behind the Kabul airport attack.
Sources reveal that Muhammad Sharifullah was initially arrested in 2019 but escaped from prison following the jailbreak on August 15. Before and after his arrest, he primarily served as a low-ranking observer. However, after the IEA securty forces dismantled key figures within ISIS’s leadership in post-victory operations, the group, out of necessity, elevated Sharifullah to a significant role.
Who is Muhammad Sharif?
According to Al-Mirsaad’s sources, Muhammad Sharif (also known as Jafar) joined ISIS after the declaration of the so-called “caliphate” in Afghanistan. In 2019, he was captured by the former Kabul administration following an attack. However, he escaped from prison on August 15, 2021, when detention centers were broken open.
Following major operations by the security forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in 2022 and 2023, which eliminated important ISIS-K leaders, Jafar became one of the few remaining operatives. As a result, he was appointed to lead ISIS-K’s security division.
As he and his network were under close surveillance and targeted operations by security agencies in Afghanistan, Muhammad Sharif fled to Pakistan for self-preservation.
Sources indicate that within ISIS ranks, Muhammad Sharif was also known as Engineer Sharif and Ajmal. As head of the group’s security division, he reportedly directed his subordinates via a Telegram account under the alias “Ishaqzai.”
Who Were the Main Perpetrators of the Kabul Airport Attack?
On April 9, 2023, an operation by the General Directorate of Intelligence of the IEA in Zaranj, Nimroz province, resulted in the death of an ISIS member named Abdullah Kabuli. At the time of his death, Kabuli was overseeing ISIS-K’s Migration Department.
Similarly, on April 5, 2023, in Herat city’s 9th security district, IEA’s special forces killed an individual named Dr. Hussain. Dr. Hussain was in charge of ISIS-K’s Suicide Brigade and a member of the group’s leadership council. At the time of his death, he served as the military commander for the western zone.
Following the deaths of Dr. Hussain and Abdullah Kabuli, a White House spokesperson confirmed that these individuals were the masterminds behind the Kabul Airport attack and were killed in operations conducted by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
Why Is Muhammad Sharif’s Role in the Kabul Attack Being Exaggerated?
Both the Trump administration and Pakistan have strategic motives for inflating Muhammad Sharif’s alleged involvement in the Kabul airport attack. Trump seeks to weaken his former political rival by overstating Sharif’s role. By amplifying Muhammad Sharif’s participation, Trump aims to reinforce his narrative that his administration prioritizes American security above all else, using this arrest as evidence.
On the other hand, Pakistan, possibly acting under U.S. influence, aims to strengthen its relationship with Trump’s administration by positioning itself as a key ally in the “war on terror.” However, Sharif’s presence and detention in Pakistan raise serious questions about the country’s role. His arrest supports reports suggesting that ISIS-K has relocated its operational headquarters to Pakistan, using it as a safe haven to plan and coordinate attacks.
