Reveals Intelligence Sharing Operations With Taliban, US Marine General: They Don't Let Terror Happen

JAKARTA - At least 60 civilians and 12 United States (US) soldiers and about 140 others were injured, as a result of two bomb attacks that occurred in the vicinity of Kabul airport, Afghanistan last Thursday.

The ISIS group is suspected of being behind this attack. The Taliban strongly condemned the bomb attack at Kabul airport, saying it would strictly stop such activities, to provide security and protection guarantees.

Responding to this incident, Marine General Kenneth 'Frank' McKenzie, Commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said, "There is an intelligence sharing operation between the US and the Taliban, related to both having the same goal, completing the ongoing evacuation by 31 August.

"As long as we keep those common goals aligned, they are useful to work with," McKenzie said, adding that some information related to the terror threat was also shared, citing Sputnik Friday 27 Aug.

"We shared this version of the information (about the terrorist threat) with the Taliban, so they actually did a search. We think they have thwarted some (terror attacks)." he continued.

McKenzie further said he had no information that would lead him to believe the Taliban deliberately allowed Thursday's terror attack to take place in Kabul.

"I don't know. I don't think there's anything to convince me that (the Taliban) let it happen," McKenzie said in response to a question about the Taliban's potential complacency in allowing attacks to happen.

As Commander of CENTCOM, McKenzie said that the intelligence sharing program has been ongoing since August 14. CENTCOM itself is the command of US troops with task areas in the Middle East, Egypt, Central Asia and parts of South Asia.

Prior to his statement, Politico reported Washington shared with the Taliban a list of names of American and Afghan allies to be allowed into Kabul airport. The Biden Administration's move sparked anger among some US lawmakers and military officials.

To note, this bomb attack comes as the United States and other countries are working hard to evacuate Afghan soldiers, citizens and civilians who are at risk of leaving the country, by August 31, as agreed with the Taliban.

To date, the United States and its allies have carried out one of the largest air evacuations in history, carrying about 95,700 people, including 13,400 on Wednesday, according to the White House.