And the terrorist who specifically planned the hit in 2008 can now be revealed as the deputy of the Taliban government now ruling Afghanistan.

It raises questions as to how the Australian Government can deal with a future Afghan administration.

Just how close Australia’s then Charge d’Affaires and acting ambassador Angela Tierney came to being killed has never been revealed with reports from the day acknowledging an incident but confirming all embassy staff were safe.

The Australian embassy was temporarily located in the five star hotel.

But “secret”, “in-confidence” and “strictly confidential” classified documents released under Freedom of Information reveal gripping detailed accounts of the Taliban plot to execute foreigners.

It also details Ms Tierney’s bloody escape and being only a few feet from one of the terrorists.

Seven people including five foreign nationals were killed and six others injured in the melee.

Intelligence reports reveal the hit was specifically planned and authorised by Sirajuddin Haqqani, the ruthless current deputy of the Taliban.

At the time of the January 2008 attack on the Serena Hotel, he was founder and head of the proscribed terror group Haqqani Network and co-ordinated the hotel assault from a base in Pakistan.

He remains in a dual position in the leadership of the Taliban and Haqqani terror group and joins his older brother who had been in an Afghan jail but was released in 2016 in a prisoner swap for two kidnapped professors American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks, snatched three years earlier from Kabul University.

The man who even claimed responsibility on behalf of the Taliban at that time was Zadihullah Mujahid, the man fronting cameras as Afghan-Taliban Government spokesman today.

Details of the Serena attack and Ms Tierney’s harrowing escape are contained in memos she and others made recommending bravery awards for seven members of the security detail.

But her employers DFAT and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet never signed off on the recommendation for recognition due to an apparent staff change, controversy over the attack and a Canberra bureaucrat failing to follow through.

This was despite the United Arab Emirates asking the Federal Government for permission to give the Australian security team a medal for saving the life of two of their diplomats, including senior consul Arif abdullah Nasir al-Tunaiji shot in the stomach who was tended to by the Australians, one of whom was a former SAS medic.

The oversight by DFAT and PMC follows revelations last week of another security detail in Iraq that also missed out on recognition for their service despite a recommendation put forward to make an amendment to awards process specifically to recognise that squad of 35 men and appeals by former foreign ministers Alexander Downer and Bob Carr.

Current Foreign Minister Marise Payne declined to comment on that medals fiasco and DFAT would not allow Ms Tierney to be interviewed.

The documents reveal Ms Tierney sent a formal letter to PMC in November 2011 again nominating the seven men for a bravery medal.

“It is my strong belief that the actions of the security team during the attack directly saved my life and that of several other civilians,” she wrote as she described their high degree of courage and professionalism long overdue recognition.

“I would note that a nomination process for bravery citations for the security team was commenced in DFAT in 2008 and revived in 2009 however stalled due, to the best of my knowledge turnover in staff at DFAT and not because of any adverse decision….”

The then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd “commended the Australian Embassy staff on their courage and professionalism” but also did not sign off on any more.

From first hand accounts it was just after 6pm when there was an explosion, as grenades were thrown at the hotel gate by a suicide bomber as gunman raced into the lobby and began firing AK-47s.

Embassy First Secretary Stuart Shaw rang the ADF HQ 2kms away to let them know something was happening but they had already heard the explosions; but with traffic would not get there in time.

But three security raced into his room, closed his curtains ordered him to don vest and helmet and shelter in his bathroom.

“Where is Angela?” one of them asked.

Ms Tierney was in the gym when she heard the commotion. The gym would soon become “the focus of the attack” and where some would be killed.

“Angela had responded to the first explosions by taking refuge in the women’s changing room along with seven other women and one man,” Mr Shaw recalled in his statement.

“Her strategy was to stay somewhere safe enough for long enough to give the security team a chance to reach her … she never doubted that someone was coming for her.”

That’s when things got hairy, the scene described as “mayhem” as the security team rescued the diplomats from Australia and the UAE and others.

Ms Tierney was treated for “deep lacerations to lower left leg” suffered during her run for freedom which included climbing a wall and running through four rows of rose bushes.

One of the men involved, a decorated Australian Army veteran, said humility was one of the great accolades of the unit he served with and when they received nothing but a thanks, most let it go.

“Australia only wants to recognise feel good things like the Thai cave disaster where the PM gave them not one but two immediate awards, double gongs including bravery,” the veteran said.

“There we were where even a foreign government wanted to award us bravery medals, if it were not for Australians their diplomat would have died let alone losing our own acting ambassador but that effort was all shelved.

“I was one of the kids taken away (Stolen Generation) but I bare no ill will but I served this country, strapped the boots on (ADF) and there is never recognition for what the boys have done.

“If we had put on the recommendation that an indigenous Australia from the Stolen Generation was one on that team that night they (politicians) would have jumped all over it to get a photo opportunity.

“I even tried to take my name of that list (of seven) to push it to the other guys but … it’s more disappointing for them, I am kinda used to a bit of bias.”