US State Dept lauds Pakistan ties but ignores question about Imran Khan

The new US administration of President Donald Trump continued to sing praises of Pakistan after the arrest of Daesh-K terrorist Mohammad Sharifullah alias Jafar, but also indicated that they were not yet interested to pay attention to Pakistan’s affairs particularly the arrest of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan.

Latest to join the chorus was US State Department’s spokesperson Tammy Bruce who while addressing her first news briefing in Washington on Thursday said the cooperation between the United States and Pakistan on counter terrorism remained crucial.

Sharifullah was detained by Pakistani authorities and extradited to the United States.

Tammy Bruce said "We extend our gratitude to the Government of Pakistan for their partnership in bringing Mohammad Sharifullah to justice."

The State Department spokesperson mentioned that the United States and Pakistan have a common interest in fighting terrorism. "...and the arrest of this terrorist also illustrated that US-Pakistan cooperation on counterterrorism remains vitally important."

The Daesh operative allegedly helped carry out the 2021 suicide bombing outside Kabul Airport during the chaotic US military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Sharifullah has confessed to scouting out the route to the airport, where the suicide bomber later detonated his device among packed crowds trying to flee days after the Taliban seized control of Kabul, the Justice Department said.

The blast at the Abbey Gate killed at least 170 Afghans as well as 13 US troops who were securing the airport's perimeter.

Sharifullah has already appeared in a court in Alexandria. He did not enter a plea. His next appearance will be in the same courthouse on Monday, and he will stay in custody until then.

President Donald Trump triumphantly announced his arrest Tuesday in an address to Congress, calling him "the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity", while thanking Pakistan for apprehending him.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for acknowledging the country's role in counter-terrorism efforts, and promised to "continue to partner closely with the United States" in a post on X.

Imran Khan issue ignored

Interestingly, during her Thursday’s news briefing the State Department spokesperson totally ignored a question regarding impersonated PTI founder Imran Khan.

As she set off her maiden news briefing with a welcome gesture to all the press corps present there, Tammy Bruce was asked “Did anybody from the US administration say thank you to Pakistan on official level regarding this new arrest? And second, is the President aware that the most popular leader of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been in jail now for last three years? And lots of atrocities has happened, but is the President at all entrusted in paying a little attention to Pakistan beside this —?”

Tammy Bruce responded “I will answer that noting that in his address to the Congress, President Trump announced the arrest of an ISIS-K operative and planner responsible for the US deaths, of the 13 brave American servicemembers and over 160 Afghans at Abbey Gate, that he is now in custody. And we extend our gratitude to the Government of Pakistan, we do, for their partnership in bringing Mohammad Sharifullah to justice.”

She further added “We would also now refer you, for those who want more information, to the Department of Justice for further information regarding his case. And we have – regarding Pakistan and the nature of our relationship, we have a common interest, obviously, in fighting terrorism, and the arrest of this terrorist also illustrated that US-Pakistan cooperation on counterterrorism remains vitally important.”

There was no response to the part of question regarding Imran Khan in Tammy Bruce’s reply.