An Afghan national has gone on trial in a U.S. federal court over his alleged role in the deadly 2021 bombing at Kabul airport during the final days of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as “Jafar,” faces a charge of providing and conspiring to provide material support to ISIS-K, the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State group, resulting in death. He has pleaded not guilty.

The attack, which took place on August 26, 2021, at Kabul airport, killed more than 180 people, including 13 U.S. service members, as thousands of Afghans crowded the facility seeking evacuation amid the Islamic Emirate return to power.

A jury was selected on Monday, with opening statements and witness testimony beginning shortly thereafter. If convicted, Sharifullah could face life imprisonment.

Prosecutors allege that Sharifullah helped prepare for the bombing at Abbey Gate, the airport’s main entry point during the evacuation. According to court filings, he admitted during FBI interviews that he scouted a route for the attacker, checking for security presence and reporting back to other ISIS-K (Daesh) members that the route was clear.

The suicide bombing was carried out by Abdul Rahman al-Logari, who detonated an explosive device at approximately 5:36 p.m.

Sharifullah told investigators he had been released from prison about two weeks before the attack and was subsequently recruited, receiving a motorcycle and a mobile phone, prosecutors said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Gibbs told the court that the defendant spoke extensively with authorities, participating in multiple FBI interviews conducted in Pakistan, during transit to the United States, and after arrival.

“You will hear his words, and you will see a great deal of evidence of his guilt,” Gibbs said in his opening remarks.

However, defence attorney Geremy Kamens rejected the allegations, arguing that the wrong person had been charged and that any statements made by Sharifullah were obtained under duress.

“This man, Mohammad Sharifullah, had nothing to do with it,” Kamens told the court, adding that the central issue was identifying who was truly responsible.

Expert testimony from Bruce Hoffman provided jurors with context on ISIS operations and described the situation at the airport ahead of the bombing as “complete pandemonium.”

During cross-examination, the defence sought to shift attention toward the IEA’s control over Kabul at the time, highlighting their influence in the days leading up to the attack.

In April 2023, IEA authorities said they had killed an ISIS-K figure described as the mastermind behind the Abbey Gate bombing, an operation carried out without U.S. involvement, according to officials from the administration of Joe Biden.

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has faced sustained criticism over its execution, particularly in the wake of the airport attack.

Humanitarian organisations have begun a multi-day operation to deliver urgently needed assistance to communities in eastern Nuristan Province, where ongoing conflict has left thousands without access to basic services for more than six weeks.

The effort is being coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) and the World Food Programme (WFP), working together to reach previously inaccessible areas.

According to humanitarian agencies, around 136,000 people — representing roughly 17,000 households — in the districts of Kamdesh District and Barg-e-Matal District have faced severe shortages of food, healthcare and essential household items due to insecurity and restricted access over the past two months.

Since early April, aid organisations have engaged in ongoing dialogue with all parties to the conflict to secure safe and unimpeded access for neutral humanitarian operations. Following these discussions, delivery of assistance has now begun.

Initial efforts are focused on distributing food, medical supplies and other essential relief items. The reopening of access routes into Nuristan has also allowed markets to gradually restock, while medical evacuations have resumed.

Humanitarian agencies said they are continuing to work closely with local communities to ensure aid reaches those most in need. Early assessments indicate that significant needs remain, particularly in food security, healthcare and basic services.

The organisations involved reaffirmed their commitment to operating under principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality, and called for continued cooperation from all parties to ensure sustained access to vulnerable populations.

US Vice President JD Vance is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday to lead the second round of indirect talks involving Iran, according to sources close to the mediation process cited by Al Jazeera, amid growing uncertainty over whether the Iranian side will participate.

Sources said Vance will depart Washington on Tuesday evening and is expected to land in the Pakistani capital around midday on Wednesday, with the discussions reportedly scheduled to take place the same day.

Preparations for the meeting are said to be underway, with reports indicating that several US military aircraft have already arrived in Pakistan in connection with the arrangements for the delegation.

However, Iran’s participation remains unclear. Iranian state media has already denied reports that any delegation has travelled to Islamabad for talks, dismissing earlier speculation as “unfounded” and insisting that no representatives—senior or otherwise—are currently engaged in such negotiations.

Adding to the uncertainty, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reiterated that Tehran does not accept negotiations conducted under threat or pressure, reinforcing long-standing Iranian conditions for any diplomatic engagement with Washington.

The apparent contradiction between US planning and Iranian public positions has raised doubts over whether the scheduled meeting will proceed as planned.

Pakistan, which has played a mediating role in facilitating earlier contacts between the two sides, is continuing efforts to keep the diplomatic channel open. However, observers note that the talks remain fragile, with both timing and participation still in question.

The situation comes at a sensitive moment, as broader regional tensions and ceasefire arrangements linked to earlier rounds of dialogue face increasing uncertainty.