President Trump on Tuesday announced the arrest of the “monster” who orchestrated the bombing that killed 13 American troops at the Kabul airport during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The president made the surprise announcement during his address to Congress.
“We have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity and he is right now on his way to face the swift sword of American justice,” Mr. Trump said.
He specifically thanked Pakistan for helping with the capture of the person.
The president did not identify the person, but Axios reported that he is Mohammad Sharifullah, an Islamic State commander. Axios said Pakistani authorities arrested him based on U.S. intelligence.
The Afghanistan withdrawal and the attack at Abbey Gate marked a grim turning point for former President Joseph R. Biden, who saw his polling turn negative and never recover.
Mr. Trump said the problem wasn’t the withdrawal itself, which he had set in motion during his first term, but “the way they withdrew.”
“Such incompetence was shown,” Mr. Trump said, hinting that the withdrawal chaos might have been a signal of weakness that tempted Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine.
When Mr. Trump was facing Mr. Biden in last year’s election, the Republican had made the Abbey Gate bombing a major part of his campaign.
Some families of the 13 troops that died spoke at the Republican National Convention.
Mr. Trump called the arrest Tuesday “a very momentous day for those 13 families.”
