US Prosecutes Afghan Man for 2021 Kabul Airport Bombing as Defense Claims Wrong Suspect

A federal trial is underway in Alexandria, Virginia, for Mohammad Sharifullah, an Afghan citizen charged with providing material support to the Islamic State Khorasan Province in connection with the August 2021 Kabul airport bombing. The case has drawn attention following reports that US authorities may have interrogated the wrong individual regarding the attack.

Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, was arrested in March 2025 in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, an operation announced by former President Donald Trump. Prosecutors allege that he joined the militant group in 2016 and provided logistical support for the suicide bombing that killed approximately 200 people, including 13 US service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians. During opening statements, US Department of Justice prosecutor John Gibbs stated that Sharifullah confessed to his involvement, identified the alleged bomber, and made statements regarding attacks on American personnel.

Defense attorney Jeremy Commons has challenged the prosecution’s case, asserting that his client played no role in the bombing plot. Commons argued that Sharifullah provided false confessions under duress and is not the individual responsible for the attack. The defense maintains that US investigators pursued the wrong suspect despite available intelligence.

According to a review by US Central Command, the actual suicide bomber was identified as Abdul Rahman al-Logari, a militant who had been released by Afghan authorities prior to the withdrawal. The militant group claimed responsibility for the assault, which occurred during the final days of the US military evacuation from Afghanistan. Jury selection and opening arguments have commenced as the federal court weighs the evidence presented by both sides.