Trump Praises Pakistan for Assistance in Arrest of Kabul Airport Attack Suspect
Washington, D.C., The Gulf Observer: U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its role in the arrest of a key terrorist responsible for the 2021 Kabul airport bombing, which claimed the lives of 13 American service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians.
Speaking before a joint session of Congress, Trump announced the apprehension of the suspect, stating: “Three and a half years ago, a [Daesh] terrorist killed 13 American service members and countless others in the Abbey Gate bombing. Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity. And he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.”
Trump took a moment to acknowledge Pakistan’s cooperation in the operation, thanking its government for aiding in the arrest. “This was a very momentous day for the 13 families I got to know very well, whose children were murdered on that fateful day,” he said.
The August 2021 Abbey Gate bombing occurred during the final phase of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a process that Trump once again criticized as a failure of the Biden administration. “Not that they were withdrawing, but it was the way they withdrew,” he remarked. “Perhaps the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country.”
In a notable shift in U.S. foreign policy, the Trump administration recently approved $397 million for the maintenance of Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jet fleet, reversing a previous aid freeze. The funds are designated strictly for counter-terrorism operations and will be subject to U.S. monitoring to prevent their use against India, according to a Reuters report.
Despite an executive order halting most overseas funding, the U.S. has granted approximately $5.3 billion in security-related exemptions, with Pakistan’s allocation being one of 243 exceptions.
The arrest marks a significant moment in counter-terrorism efforts, reinforcing cooperation between Washington and Islamabad in addressing regional security threats.
