Key points
- Says US to “wage war” on Mexican drug cartels
- Administration to reclaim Panama Canal
- Country will be woke no longer
- Golden age of America has only just begun
ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump, in an address to the US Congress, thanked the Pakistani government for apprehending the “top terrorist” involved in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing.
“Three and a half years ago, a [Daesh] terrorists killed 13 American service members and countless others in the Abbey Gate bombing,” Trump said.
BREAKING: As President Trump just announced, I can report that tonight the FBI, DOJ, and CIA have extradited one of the terrorists responsible for the murder of the 13 American soldiers at Abbey Gate during the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.
One step closer to justice for…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) March 5, 2025
“Tonight, I am pleased to announce that we have just apprehended the top terrorist responsible for that atrocity,” Trump said. “And he is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.”
Empowered by President Trump’s leadership, tonight one of the terrorist leaders responsible for the murder of our 13 American soldiers at Abbey Gate during the failed Afghanistan withdrawal will be taken into U.S. custody by the DoJ, FBI, and CIA.
We hope this brings some…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) March 5, 2025
After a brief pause and a round of applause, he thanked the Government of Pakistan for helping apprehend the “monster” and added that it was “a very momentous day” for the affected families.
Evidence of cooperation
While commenting on Trump’s announcement before the US Congress, a top Pakistani security official clarified that “this leading ISIS terrorist was arrested by Pakistani forces and handed over to the US government.”
An Islamabad-based security analyst, Syed Muhammad Ali, described the arrest of the important ISIS terrorist leader as an evidence of successful and continuing Pakistan-US intelligence and security cooperation against the common threat of terrorism. “President Trump’s announcement before the US Congress of this important arrest also indicates that the US highly values Pakistan’s contribution and cooperation in counterterrorism domain,” he added in an exclusive conversation with WE News English.
Pakistan PM thanks President Trump
In a post on X, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stated: We thank US President Donald Trump for acknowledging and appreciating Pakistan’s role and support in counter terrorism efforts across the region, in the context of Pakistan Security Forces’ recent apprehension of ISKP’s top tier operational commander Shareefullah, who is an Afghanistan National. The wanted terrorist was apprehended in a successful operation conducted in Pakistan-Afghan border region.
We thank US President Donald Trump for acknowledging and appreciating Pakistan’s role and support in counter terrorism efforts across the region, in the context of Pakistan Security Forces’ recent apprehension of ISKP’s top tier operational commander Shareefullah, who is an…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 5, 2025
Shehbaz said: As is well-known, Pakistan has always played a critical role in counter terrorism efforts aimed at denying safe havens to terrorists and militant groups the space to operate against any other country. We remain steadfast in our resolve and unwavering commitment to combating terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, he added.
Pakistan PM said: In this effort, Pakistan has rendered great sacrifices, including the lives of over 80,000 of our brave soldiers and citizens.
The resolve of our leadership and our people remains unflinching, to eradicate the menace of terrorism from our country. We will continue to partner closely with the United States in securing regional peace and stability, he added.
Who is Daesh commander Sharif Ullah?
According to Pakistan military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan arrested Mohammad Sharif Ullah aka Jaffer, a senior Daesh commander and a citizen of Afghanistan from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area after a lead from American intelligence in a special operation. Daesh commander Sharif Ullah was the mastermind of Kabul airport attack that took place in 2021. Sharif Ullah was an American intelligence’s high value target since the attack.
Sharif Ullah is expected to arrive in the US on Wednesday and an indictment against him is expected to be unsealed, a US official said, according to a report published by Axios.
“American dream is unstoppable”
US President Donald Trump declared that the “American dream is unstoppable” Tuesday in the address to the US Congress.
According to AFP, with Musk, the world’s richest person, among those attending the primetime televised address, the 78-year-old Republican said after less than two months back in power he is “just getting started.”
“America is back,” he declared.
Almost every line got loud applause from Republican Party members, including on two occasions when Trump singled out Musk, who stood up to salute the Congress.
But protests also began within minutes.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2025
One Democratic congressman, Al Green, was ordered ejected because he refused to stop heckling, claiming Trump has no mandate to dismantle healthcare programs, and shaking his walking stick at the president.
According to AFP, other Democrats silently held up placards including “False” and “Musk steals” and “That’s a lie!”
End the Ukraine war
According to AFP, the president hailed his first six weeks, vowing to press on with his polarising bid to reshape the US government and end the Ukraine war — whatever the cost.
However, in what often sounded more like a campaign speech than an address to the whole nation, he made no attempt to reach out to opponents.
He got big cheers from supporters on pronouncing that his culture war on diversity programs and transgender rights meant “our country will be woke no longer.”
Trade war
Trump also set out his vision on the economy — even as the trade war he launched against Canada, China and Mexico is prompting jitters on world markets and threatening to raise prices at home.
He claimed that he was trying to resolve an “economic catastrophe,” despite actually inheriting the strongest developed economy in the world from his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden.
The event marked a triumphant comeback to the US Capitol for Trump — just four years after his supporters stormed the building to protest his 2020 election loss, which in an unprecedented act of defiance he still refuses to fully accept.
“A little disturbance”
The United States economy is set to see some “disturbance” from tariffs, President Donald Trump said Tuesday, but he touted levies as a tool that would help domestic industries boom.
“Tariffs are not just about protecting American jobs. They’re about protecting the soul of our country,” Trump said in his first address to a joint session of Congress since returning to the White House.
“There’ll be a little disturbance, but we’re okay with that. It won’t be much,” he added.
He warned that those who do not make their products in the United States will have to pay levies, “in some cases a rather large one.”
Trump also took aim at the European Union and countries including Canada, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Korea over what he called “unfair” practices.
“This is happening by friend and foe. This system is not fair to the United States, and never was,” he said.
He added that reciprocal tariffs tailored to US trading partners would “kick in” on April 2.
Trump promised “trillions of dollars” in gains from tariffs, alongside job creation.
Since returning to office, Trump has moved swiftly to impose tariffs hitting some $1.4 trillion in US imports from Canada, Mexico and China — with further levies in the pipeline.
The moves sent shockwaves through financial markets, drawing swift retaliation, including counter-tariffs and other measures.
On Mexican drug cartels
US President Donald Trump vowed to “wage war” on Mexico’s drug cartels, which he accused of rape and murder as well as “posing a grave threat” to US national security.
“The cartels are waging war on America, and it’s time for America to wage war on the cartels, which we are doing,” Trump told a joint session of Congress, a ramping up of rhetoric after his administration designated several Latin American cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
He also said his administration will reclaim Panama Canal.
Popularity taking a hit
Trump is pushing to extend presidential power to its limits, with the popular vote behind him and a Republican-controlled House and Senate doing his bidding.
Aided by tech tycoon Musk, Trump has cracked down on the federal bureaucracy, firing thousands of workers, shuttering entire agencies and decimating foreign aid.
There are early signs in the polls that Trump’s sweeping cuts and his failure to tackle inflation are hitting his popularity.
Trump is also upending US foreign policy with his pivot to Moscow over the Ukraine war, which has stunned Kyiv and allies alike.
The Democratic rebuttal to Trump’s address will be provided by new Michigan senator Elissa Slotkin, a 48-year-old former CIA analyst and rising star in the party, according to AFP.
Long speech
“The golden age of America has only just begun,” he told Congress as he finished his speech after speaking for nearly 100 minutes, according to AP.
