The president’s praise of the Pakistani government for its role in capturing a “top terrorist” signaled a possible strengthening of counterterrorism ties.

U.S. officials provided intelligence to Pakistan that led to the detention of Mohmmad Sharifullah, a leader of an Islamic State affiliate. The attack in 2021 killed 13 American soldiers and dozens of Afghans.

Pakistan has detained the mastermind of the 2021 Kabul airport attack that killed 13 American service members and dozens of Afghans, The New York Times reports. US President Donald Trump announced the capture of Mohammad Sharifullah,

The White House identified the man as Muhammed Sharifullah, and Trump said he is being brought to the U.S. to face charges.

Pakistan has moved to the second-most terrorism-affected country in the world according to the GTI 2025 report, with a 45% increase in fatalities and more than double the terrorist attacks. The rise in violence is linked to the influence of the Afghan Taliban and operations of the TTP.

Pakistan highlighted its counterterrorism cooperation with Washington after the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, whom it blames for a 2021 attack on U.S. troops at Kabul airport, in a military operation along the border with Afghanistan.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday evening that the US is transporting a “top terrorist” involved in the 2021 bombing at Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate in Afghanistan where 13 US service members and at least 170 Afghan civilians were killed.

PM Shehbaz says IS-KP commander Sharifullah arrested from Pak-Afghan border region; US NSA conveys Trump's appreciation to FM Dar.

The arrest of an Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) militant who is suspected of helping plan an attack against the U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2021 marks an upturn in strained ties between Washington and Islamabad.