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Was ISIS Member Muhammad Sharif Jafar, Arrested in Pakistan, Really the Mastermind Behind the Kabul Airport Attack?
In his first address to Congress last Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that a “high-level terrorist responsible” for the 2021 attack on Kabul’s international airport had been captured in Pakistan.
Following this statement, U.S. media reported that Muhammad Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, was apprehended by Pakistani intelligence near the Afghan border after the CIA provided information about his whereabouts. Trump stated that Pakistan had handed over Sharif to the U.S., where he would face trial.
Almarsad has obtained information from its sources regarding the arrested individual. The details reveal that Muhammad Sharif was not the mastermind behind the Kabul attack.
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According to sources, Muhammad Sharif was initially captured in 2019 but escaped from prison during the mass jailbreak on August 15. Before his arrest and after his release, Sharif was primarily involved in surveillance operations. However, after the Taliban’s takeover and the elimination of key ISIS leaders by the Islamic Emirate’s security forces, Sharif was forced into a more significant role within ISIS.
Who is Muhammad Sharif?
Almarsad sources indicate that Muhammad Sharif, or Jafar, joined ISIS after the group declared its self-proclaimed caliphate in Afghanistan. He was arrested by the former Kabul government in 2019 but was released in 2021. When the Islamic Emirate’s security forces eliminated ISIS leadership and key figures in 2022 and 2023, Sharif was left in the field and given responsibility for ISIS-Khorasan’s security operations. Due to intense surveillance and operations by Afghan security forces, he fled to Pakistan for safety.
Sharif was known within ISIS ranks by various names, including Engineer Sharif and Ajmal. Recently, while overseeing security, he led his subordinates through a Telegram account under the name Ishaqzai.
Who Were the Real Masterminds Behind the Kabul Airport Attack?
On April 9, 2023, Abdullah Kabuli, head of ISIS-Khorasan’s migrant affairs, was killed in an operation by the Islamic Emirate’s intelligence in Zaranj, Nimroz. Earlier, on April 5, 2023, Dr. Hussain, responsible for ISIS-Khorasan’s “martyrdom brigade,” was killed in Herat. Both were identified by the White House as key planners of the Kabul airport attack.
Why is Muhammad Sharif’s Role Being Exaggerated?
Both the Trump administration and Pakistan are exaggerating Sharif’s role in the Kabul attack to serve their respective agendas. Trump aims to weaken his political rivals and bolster his claim that the U.S. prioritizes the safety of its citizens, using Sharif’s arrest as evidence.
Meanwhile, Pakistan seeks to improve relations with the U.S. by aligning with Trump’s narrative, despite the fact that Sharif’s presence and arrest in Pakistan raise questions about the country’s role in harboring militants.
Almarsad reports that ISIS-Khorasan has shifted its sanctuaries to Pakistan, where it plans and executes its attacks, further complicating the region’s security dynamics.
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