Non-Afghan soldiers depart after participating in a military operation against the militants that attacked the Intercontinental hotel in Kabul on June 29, 2011. Pedro Ugarte / AFP / Getty Images ...

At least 40 people were killed in the attack on Kabuls luxury Intercontinental Hotel at the weekend, official figures showed Thursday -- almost double the earlier toll released by Afghan authorities.

Tuesday’s deadly attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul was a painful reminder that the U.S. drawdown from Afghanistan will not occur under conditions of Washington’s choosing.

Gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in Kabul and killed at least six people including a foreigner, sparking a 12-hour battle that left terrified guests scrambling to escape and parts of the building ablaze.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government took over management of Kabul’s famed Serena hotel on Saturday, a hotel statement said, a luxury property targeted by Taliban attacks during their insurgency.

Afghanistan's Taliban government took over management of Kabul's famed Serena hotel on Saturday, a hotel statement said, a luxury property targeted by Taliban attacks during their insurgency.