A new investigative report, authored by former CIA officer Sarah Adams, has unveiled that the Abbey Gate attack in August 2021 was orchestrated through a coordinated effort between Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s minister of interior, and Sanaullah Ghafari, the leader of the Daesh’s Khorasan branch, ISIS-K.
The attack on August 26, 2021, killed 13 U.S. service members and over 170 Afghan civilians.
The report unveils significant findings regarding the 2021 suicide bombing at Abbey Gate outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.
The report, titled “HKIA: Know Thy Enemy,” provides a detailed account of how the Abbey Gate bombing was meticulously planned by these high-ranking militants.
The investigation reveals that the attack was premeditated, with Abbey Gate selected as the target due to the high concentration of U.S. Marines stationed there.
According to the report, the suicide bomber, Abdul Rauf Sangari, was released from detention by the Taliban just days before the attack. He was then trained and equipped by ISKP operatives and facilitated through a series of checkpoints controlled by the Haqqani Network’s Badri 313 and al-Fateh forces. These groups played a crucial role in ensuring that the bomber could reach his target without interference.
One of the report’s most alarming findings is the alleged protection and concealment of Sirajuddin Haqqani’s involvement by the U.S. government. Despite clear evidence implicating Haqqani, U.S. authorities have primarily focused on ISKP, allowing the Haqqani Network to evade full accountability. The report calls for a comprehensive review by congressional intelligence committees to address these oversights.
The investigation also highlights the tragic consequences of the attack, including a U.S. drone strike that mistakenly targeted a civilian vehicle, killing 10 members of a single family. This incident further compounded the grief and outrage associated with the bombing.
In its conclusion, the report issues a strong call to action, urging the U.S. government to terminate the Doha Agreement, designate the Taliban as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and halt all funding that indirectly supports the Taliban. It also demands that those responsible for the Abbey Gate attack, including Sirajuddin Haqqani and Sanaullah Ghafari, be brought to justice through targeted bounties and inclusion on the FBI’s Most Wanted List.
This report underscores the persistent and complex threats posed by coordinated terrorist networks in Afghanistan and stresses the urgent need for accountability at the highest levels.
