Sharifullah confessed involvement in the Kabul Airport attack.
The Court adjourned the hearing till March 10.

IS-K operative faces charges in Virginia court:

On Wednesday, a key member of the militant Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) group appeared in a Virginia court. Mohammad Sharifullah is accused of helping in the deadly 2021 Kabul airport bombing. The attack occurred during the chaotic US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Sharifullah’s Confession:

Sharifullah admitted to scouting the route to the airport before the suicide bombing. The attacker later exploded a device at Abbey Gate that killed 170 Afghans and 13 US troops. The US Justice Department confirmed his confession.

Also Read: Pakistan Assists US In Capturing Abbey Gate Attack Suspect

Sharifullah appeared in a court in Alexandria, Virginia. He wore light blue prison attire and a black face mask. The judge appointed him a public defender and provided an interpreter. He did not enter a plea. The court set his next hearing for March 10 and ordered him to be in custody.

US links Sharifullah to IS-K:

US authorities claim Sharifullah is an IS-K member who is operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistani authorities detained him before transferring him to the US. Donald Trump announced Sharifullah’s capture in an address to Congress. He described him as “the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity.” Trump thanked Pakistan for helping in the arrest.

IS-K’s planning of Kabul attack:

According to the Justice Department, IS-K operatives provided Sharifullah with a cellphone and SIM card. They instructed him to inspect the route to the airport. After he confirmed it was safe, they told him to leave. Later that day, he learned about the bombing and recognised the attacker. Sharifullah faces charges of providing material to foreign terrorist organisations.”

Kabul evacuation and IS-K threat:

The US military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 led to a chaotic evacuation. Tens of thousands of Afghans flooded Kabul airport, desperate to leave. The attack at Abbey Gate heightened fears about terrorist threats in the region.

Pakistan’s role in arrest:

In 2023, the White House announced that an IS-K member involved in the Kabul attack had been killed. Afghanistan’s Taliban government reportedly carried out the operation. Pakistan played a key role in Sharifullah’s capture. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for recognising Pakistan’s efforts in counterterrorism. He pledged to continue security cooperation with the US.

IS-K’s expanding terror campaign:

IS-K has intensified attacks in recent years. ISK-K admitted a bombing in Iran last year that killed 90 people. Their influence continues to grow across South Asia and beyond.