During his address to Congress, President Donald Trump announced the arrest of an Afghan national suspected of involvement in the Kabul airport bombing with Pakistan’s assistance. The attack occurred during the evacuation of US forces from Kabul after the Taliban takeover. President Trump referred to the bombing as a shameful moment in US history and thanked Pakistan for their help in capturing the alleged mastermind. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also thanked Trump for acknowledging Pakistan’s role in counterterrorism.
The arrested individual, Mohammad Sharifullah, a commander of the ISKP, was captured in a joint operation near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The operation showcased strong cooperation between US and Pakistani security forces. Sharifullah was extradited to the US for legal proceedings, reinforcing Pakistan’s stance on Afghanistan being a hub of terrorism.
The arrest has implications for Pakistan-US relations, with experts suggesting that despite political differences, military cooperation between the two countries remains robust. The shared goal of regional stability drives continued collaboration between the US and Pakistan. Operasi ini menunjukkan adanya kejelasan dalam administrasi AS tentang pentingnya Pakistan – sesuatu yang kurang terlihat selama administrasi Biden sebelumnya,” tambah Cheema.
Namun, Lodhi, yang juga pernah menjabat sebagai duta Pakistan untuk Britania Raya dan PBB, percaya bahwa hubungan Pakistan-AS secara keseluruhan memerlukan reset, karena telah berada pada titik terendah sejak penarikan AS dari Afghanistan pada tahun 2021.
“Apa yang ditunjukkan perkembangan terbaru ini adalah bahwa kerjasama terus berlangsung dalam rentang yang sempit dan masih harus menemukan basis yang lebih luas. Pakistan tidak ada dalam daftar prioritas kebijakan luar negeri Trump, tetapi penangkapan ini dan ucapan terima kasih Trump kepada Pakistan memberikan kesempatan untuk menjelajahi bagaimana hubungan dapat dibangun kembali dan didefinisikan kembali,” katanya.