Taliban's Airport Bombing: Who Did It And Why?

On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing took place at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, during the evacuation from Afghanistan. The attack killed at least 182 people, including 169 Afghan civilians and 13 US service members. The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISIS–K) claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the Taliban were not believed to have been involved and even condemned the blasts. In fact, in 2023, the Taliban killed the senior Islamic State group leader behind the suicide bombing.

The Taliban killed the Islamic State leader behind the bombing

On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, killed 13 US service members and about 170 Afghan civilians. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, naming the bomber as Abdul Rahman al-Logari.

In April 2023, it was reported that the Taliban had killed the senior Islamic State group leader behind the bombing. The IS leader's identity has not been released, and the Taliban were not aware of the identity of the person they killed. US officials said they had determined through intelligence gathering and monitoring of the region that the leader had died, though they did not provide further details on how they had learned that he was responsible for the bombing.

The IS leader was killed in southern Afghanistan in early April as the Taliban conducted a series of operations against the Islamic State group. The Taliban's operations against the Islamic State group come amid ongoing fighting between the two groups. The Afghanistan-based offshoot of the Islamic State is the Taliban's most bitter enemy and top threat militarily.

The suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport took place during the evacuation from Afghanistan. It was one of the deadliest incidents for American forces during their 20-year presence in Afghanistan.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack

On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing took place at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, during the evacuation from Afghanistan. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed at least 182 people, including 169 Afghan civilians and 13 members of the United States military. The Islamic State's Amaq news agency said on its Telegram channel that a member called Abdul Rahman al-Logari carried out the suicide bombing.

The Islamic State's affiliate in Afghanistan, known as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), had been pointed to as the prime suspect immediately after the blast. ISKP poses an "acute" and "persistent" threat to the continuing evacuations from the Afghan capital, according to US national security adviser Jake Sullivan. The group has carried out a series of lethal operations with its trademark brutality, targeting a wider range of targets than previously, including Shia Muslims, journalists, foreigners, civilian infrastructure, and military personnel.

ISKP was founded just under six years ago after representatives of IS met with disaffected Taliban commanders and other extremists in southwestern Pakistan. The main IS parent organization was then at its peak, seizing swaths of Syria and Iraq and establishing affiliates worldwide. ISKP has some kind of relationship with military intelligence services in Pakistan, and there is evidence that IS's leadership in the Middle East sent a significant sum of money to ISKP earlier in 2021, possibly enabling its new campaign.

The Taliban may try to prevent such operations but will be unable to watch every corner of Afghanistan's rugged terrain. The new rulers of Afghanistan have so far been unable to force ISKP fighters out of two valleys in Kunar province, despite repeated offensives earlier this year. ISKP is likely to see an attack against the airport as a "great victory", as it hits legitimate targets, sends a signal that it is still a force to be reckoned with, and challenges the Taliban's state project.

The Taliban condemned the attack

On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing took place at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, during the evacuation from Afghanistan. The attack killed at least 182 people, including 169 Afghan civilians and 13 members of the United States military. The Islamic State - Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for the attack, naming the bomber as Abdul Rahman al-Logari.

The Taliban, who had recently taken control of the country, condemned the attack. Through a tweet by their spokesperson, the Taliban denounced the attack, stating that "evil circles will be strictly stopped". The Taliban later announced that they would take every possible measure to capture ISIS-K leader, Shahab al-Muhajir.

The Taliban's condemnation of the attack is significant given their history of conflict with ISIS-K. The Taliban had previously fought against the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan and considered them their most bitter enemy and top military threat. Despite ideological differences and instances of violence between the two groups, the Taliban and ISIS-K share a common enemy in the United States and its allies.

In the aftermath of the attack, the Taliban pledged to cooperate with the United States to maintain security at the airport. However, the relationship between the Taliban and the United States remained strained, with the Taliban imposing draconian measures and restricting the rights of women and girls. The United States and other Western countries had warned their citizens not to rely on the Taliban for security and to leave the airport due to security threats.

The Taliban's condemnation of the attack on the Kabul airport highlights the complex dynamics between different factions in Afghanistan. While the Taliban sought to project an image of control and stability, the attack underscored the ongoing security threats and the fragile nature of the country's political situation.

The US President addressed the public following the attack

On 26 August 2021, a suicide bombing took place at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. The attack killed at least 182 people, including 169 Afghan civilians and 13 US service members. The Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for the attack.

The US President, Joe Biden, addressed the public following the attack. In an emotional speech delivered from the White House, he honoured the US service members who were killed, calling them "heroes" and expressing deep sorrow for the Afghan victims. Biden also issued a stern warning to those who wished harm upon the US, stating:

> "We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay."

He further emphasised that the attack would not drive the US out of Afghanistan earlier than scheduled and that he had instructed the US military to develop plans to strike ISIS-K. Biden's address came after he spent much of the morning in the White House Situation Room, where he received briefings on the explosions and consulted with his national security team and commanders on the ground in Kabul.

The Kabul airport attack was a tragic event that marked a low point in the United States' exit from Afghanistan. It left a profound impact on those involved, with many US service members experiencing lasting feelings of anger, guilt, and grief. The US military's response to the attack and the subsequent drone strike that killed civilians added to the complexity of an already challenging situation.

The Taliban's relationship with the US military

The relationship between the Taliban and the US military has been tumultuous, with the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 leading to a mass evacuation effort by the US and its allies. The Taliban's history with the US military is complex and spans decades, with periods of conflict and attempted cooperation.

The first official contact between the US and Afghanistan occurred in the 1830s, but diplomatic relations were not established until 1935. In the 1950s, the US began providing foreign aid to Afghanistan, and in the 1970s, it started to financially support the Afghan resistance against the Soviet Union. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 marked a turning point, with the US committing $3 billion in financial and diplomatic support to anti-Soviet Mujahideen forces.

Following the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the US invaded Afghanistan, overthrew the Taliban government, and began a reconstruction effort. In 2012, the US and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership agreement, and Afghanistan was designated a major non-NATO ally. However, the relationship deteriorated again as the Taliban launched a major offensive in 2021, overthrowing the US-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and forcing the evacuation of US diplomatic personnel.

During the evacuation efforts, a suicide bombing took place at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, killing at least 182 people, including 13 US service members. The Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for the attack, and the Taliban condemned it. The US launched airstrikes in retaliation, targeting suspected ISIS-K members.

The US-Taliban relationship has been marked by periods of conflict and attempted cooperation, with the Taliban's recent rise to power creating new challenges and tensions. The US has shifted to a position of pragmatic engagement, focusing on humanitarian aid and targeted assistance to meet basic human needs in Afghanistan.

Frequently asked questions