Mohammad Sharifullah, a Daesh-K terrorist, has confessed to his involvement in two major attacks—the 2021 Kabul airport bombing and the 2024 Moscow Crocus City Hall attack. His admission sheds light on the growing threat posed by ISIS-K militants.
Sharifullah appeared before a court in Virginia on Wednesday. He admitted to scouting the route for the Kabul airport attack, where a suicide bomber later detonated an explosive device. The attack killed 170 Afghan civilians and 13 US troops securing the airport. According to the Justice Department, his role was crucial in facilitating the devastating blast.
Dressed in light blue prison attire with a black face mask, Sharifullah was presented in a courtroom in Alexandria, near Washington, D.C. A public defender was assigned to him, and he was provided with an interpreter. He did not enter a plea. The judge ordered him to remain in custody until his next court appearance on Monday.
The United States revealed that Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, was a member of the Daesh-Khorasan branch in Afghanistan. Pakistani authorities detained him and later handed him over to US officials. Former President Donald Trump announced his arrest during an address to Congress, calling him “the top terrorist responsible for the Kabul attack.”
According to court documents, Daesh-K operatives provided Sharifullah with a mobile phone and SIM card. His task was to confirm a safe route to the airport. After signaling the all-clear, he was instructed to leave the area. Later that day, he learned about the explosion and recognized the suicide bomber as a terrorist he had met in prison.
Sharifullah faces charges of “providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist group, resulting in death.”
Moscow Crocus City Hall Attack
The US government also linked Sharifullah to the March 2024 Moscow attack at Crocus City Hall. He admitted to giving instructions on handling AK-style rifles and other weapons through video communication. The assault resulted in mass casualties, further proving his deep connections to global terrorism.
US-Afghanistan-Pakistan Relations
The US military withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021, ending a chaotic evacuation effort. Thousands of Afghans desperately tried to flee the country, with some clinging to aircraft as they took off. In 2023, the White House confirmed that a Daesh-K leader involved in the Kabul attack had been killed by the Taliban.
Pakistan’s role in counter-terrorism has come under global focus. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for recognizing Pakistan’s efforts in fighting terrorism. He reassured Washington that Pakistan remains committed to security cooperation.
However, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to rise. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban of sheltering militants who launch cross-border attacks. Daesh-K, which has been responsible for several attacks in Afghanistan, has also expanded its international reach. In 2023, the group carried out a bombing in Iran, killing over 90 people.
Michael Kugelman, an expert on South Asia, noted that Pakistan is using US concerns about terrorism in Afghanistan to strengthen its security ties with Washington. As Daesh-K expands its operations, global security remains under threat.
