Washington: Mohammad Sharifullah, an Afghan citizen accused of planning the bombing of Kabul 2021 airport, appeared before a federal court in Virginia, after his extradition.
The attack at the Abbey Gate of the Hamid Karzai International Airport of Kabul killed 13 members of the US Service and at least 170 Afghan civilians during the last days of the chaotic withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan in August 2021.
On Wednesday, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Sharifullah of “conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, which resulted in death.”
An official statement from the United States, published during the Judicial Hearing, indicated that Sharifullah spent several days in Pakistan and was widely interrogated by US officials before being extradited. Pakistani special forces recently captured Sharifullah along the Pakistan-Affghana border.
During his appearance in the Court, Sharifullah spoke softly through an interpreter and recognized the position against him.
Flanked by three American bailiffs, he answered the questions of the magistrate judge about his rights and legal representation. The judge ordered his continuous detention to a preliminary hearing scheduled for Monday.
If you are guilty, Sharifullah could spend the rest of her life in an American prison. A judge of the Federal District Court will determine its final sentence after considering the guidelines and other factors, said the Department of Justice. The Prosecutor’s Office will seek its continuous detention pending trial.
In an informative session on Thursday, the state department spokeswoman, Tammy Bruce, said: “We extend our gratitude to the Pakistan government, we really do it. We have a common interest in fighting terrorism. “
Anti -terrorism cooperation with Pakistan is of vital importance, he said.
Posted in Dawn, March 7, 2025
