Pakistan handed over ISIS commander Sharifullah to the U.S. after his arrest near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. He was presented before a federal court in Virginia, where he faces charges that could lead to a life sentence if convicted.
During his initial hearing before Judge William Porter, Sharifullah, who lacks financial assets, was assigned a public defender. Due to his inability to speak English, he used a Dari interpreter in court and revealed that he joined ISIS in 2000.
According to the FBI, Sharifullah admitted to his involvement in the August 26, 2021, suicide bombing at Kabul Airport, which killed 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghan civilians. He guided the attacker to the airport and assisted other ISIS operatives by clearing their path. He also confessed to participating in multiple ISIS attacks in Afghanistan.
U.S. authorities further revealed that Sharifullah facilitated the March 22, 2023, terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall near Moscow, which left 123 civilians dead. He admitted to training the attackers and providing tactical instructions to two of the four assailants.
Sharifullah disclosed that he had been released from prison just two weeks before the Kabul Airport attack and was provided funds by ISIS to purchase a motorcycle and a mobile phone.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on Monday.
