Pakistan did not consult the Taliban regarding the extradition of Mohammad Sharifullah to the United States, according to Aqeel Malik, Adviser to Pakistan’s Ministry of Law and Justice.
Sharifullah, the alleged mastermind behind the deadly ISIS attack at Kabul airport, was arrested in Pakistan and later handed over to U.S. authorities.
The U.S. Department of Justice previously stated that Sharifullah was involved in multiple attacks, including the March 2024 concert hall bombing in Moscow, which killed at least 145 people.
Malik explained that Sharifullah was arrested at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and later extradited to the U.S.. He stated that there was no need to consult Afghanistan on the matter.
He also clarified that while Pakistan does not have a formal extradition treaty with the U.S., it follows specific procedures allowing extradition if the requesting country provides the necessary legal documentation.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Malik also claimed that U.S. weapons left in Afghanistan are being used in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, confirmed that Sharifullah is an Afghan citizen.
On Tuesday, 4 March, U.S. President Donald Trump, in a speech before a joint session of Congress, announced that the mastermind behind the Kabul airport bombing—which killed 13 U.S. soldiers and over 170 Afghan civilians—had been captured with Pakistan’s cooperation.
Following Trump’s statement, Kash Patel, Director of the FBI, confirmed that Sharifullah had been transferred to the U.S. and would face “American justice”.
The attack at Kabul airport occurred on 26 August 2021, during the chaotic evacuation of U.S. and NATO forces. A suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate entrance killed 13 U.S. troops and over 170 Afghan civilians, leaving dozens more injured.
