Abdul Haq Wasiq

Abdul Haq Wasiq
Born	1971 Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
Occupation	Intelligence official
Years active	1996–2001, 2021–present
Known for	Director of Intelligence for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan; former Deputy Minister of Intelligence; former Guantanamo detainee

Abdul Haq Wasiq (; born 1971) has held the position of Director of Intelligence for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since September 7, 2021. Earlier, during the Taliban's previous rule from 1996 to 2001, he served as the Deputy Minister of Intelligence.

Wasiq was held at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility from January 11, 2002, until his release on May 31, 2014. His Internment Serial Number was 4. Originating from Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, he was freed as part of a notable prisoner exchange involving five Taliban detainees—Mohammad Fazl, Khairullah Khairkhwa, Norullah Noori, and Mohammad Nabi Omari—in return for U.S. Army soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who had been captured by the Haqqani network.

Detention aboard the USS Bataan

Abdul Salam Zaeef, former Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan, recounted being transported to the amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy, the USS Bataan, for specialized interrogation sessions. Zaeef described the holding cells located six decks below deck, measuring approximately one by two meters. Communication among prisoners was prohibited except during meal times when they could see each other. He identified fellow detainees including Mullahs Fazal, Noori, Burhan, Wasseeq Sahib, and Rohani. Historian Andy Worthington, author of The Guantanamo Files, confirmed Wasiq as one of the individuals Zaeef mentioned, alongside Mullah Rohani as Gholam Ruhani, Mullah Noori as Norullah Noori, and Mullah Fazal as Mohammed Fazil.

Combatant Status Review

Approximately 60% of detainees took part in Combatant Status Review Tribunal proceedings, including Wasiq. For each tribunal, a Summary of Evidence memo was compiled outlining allegations against the detainee.

Wasiq’s memo detailed accusations such as:

Administrative Review Board hearings

Those designated as "enemy combatants" underwent yearly Administrative Review Board evaluations to determine if their detention should continue. These hearings did not revisit prisoner-of-war status or initial enemy combatant designations.

The Board's purpose was to assess whether detainees remained a threat, could be safely returned to their home countries, or warranted release.

First annual Administrative Review Board

A Summary of Evidence memo was drafted on July 18, 2005, for Abdul Haq Wasiq’s initial Administrative Review Board hearing. The document listed both reasons supporting his continued detention and factors that could justify release or transfer.

Key reasons supporting ongoing detention included:

Key reasons supporting release or transfer included:

Joint Review Task Force

When President Barack Obama assumed office in January 2009, he committed to ending torture practices at Guantanamo and establishing a new detainee evaluation process involving representatives from six different departments, moving away from the previous system managed solely by the Department of Defense's OARDEC. A year afterward, the Joint Review Task Force designated certain detainees as too dangerous to release despite insufficient evidence to formally charge them. This categorization was made public on April 9, 2013, following a request under the Freedom of Information Act. Among the 71 individuals labeled as too risky for transfer but not chargeable was Abdul Haq Wasiq. Although President Obama had assured that these detainees would receive regular assessments, less than 25% have actually been reviewed by a Periodic Review Board.

Press reports

In an article featured in The Christian Science Monitor, Ahmadullah recounted being summoned twice by Mohammed Omar to return to Kandahar. He explained:

"He called me twice to come to Kandahar. But I cannot go there easily, because many know me, and I fear capture on the road. So I sent my assistant Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq instead. Unfortunately, he was captured by American agents in Ghazni."

Release negotiations

By 2009, the majority of Afghan detainees at Guantanamo had been sent back to Afghanistan. During peace talks between the U.S. and the Taliban in late 2011 and early 2012, the detention of Wasiq along with four other high-ranking Taliban figures—Norullah Noori, Mohammed Fazl, Khirullah Khairkhwa, and Mohammed Nabi—emerged as a significant sticking point.

The suggested resolution involved relocating these five detainees to Doha, Qatar, where they would open an official Taliban office. In March 2012, Ibrahim Spinzada, referred to as "Karzai's top aide," reportedly obtained their consent for this transfer during a visit to Guantanamo. Although initially resistant, Karzai eventually endorsed the proposal. Nevertheless, U.S. officials noted that the Obama administration had yet to authorize the move.

Release from Guantanamo Bay

On June 1, 2014, Wasiq along with the other four members known as the Taliban Five were freed from Guantanamo Bay and relocated to Qatar. Their release was part of an exchange deal brokered by Qatar's Emir that also secured the return of U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl. As a stipulation of their release, Wasiq and the other four were required to stay within Qatar for a period of twelve months.

External links

• Who Are the Remaining Prisoners in Guantánamo? Part Two: Captured in Afghanistan (2001) Andy Worthington, September 17, 2010