Ghani says he left Kabul to prevent bloodshed and denies reports he took large sums of money with him
18 August 2021 - 20:26
byAgency Staff
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaks at parliament in Kabul, Afghanistan August 2 2021. Picture: REUTERS
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced it was hosting Ashraf Ghani after the exiled president of Afghanistan fled the country.
“The UAE ministry of foreign affairs & international co-operation can confirm that the UAE has welcomed President Ashraf Ghani and his family into the country on humanitarian grounds,” the ministry said in a brief statement on Wednesday.
Ghani said on Wednesday that he had left Kabul to prevent bloodshed and denied reports he took large sums of money with him as he departed the presidential palace.
He has been bitterly criticised by former ministers for leaving the country suddenly as Taliban forces entered Kabul on Sunday.
“If I had stayed, I would be witnessing bloodshed in Kabul,” Ghani said in a video streamed on Facebook, his first public comments since leaving for the UAE.
“The Taliban have won,” he added.
He left on the advice of government officials, he added.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Ousted Afghan leader Ashraf Ghani in UAE
Ghani says he left Kabul to prevent bloodshed and denies reports he took large sums of money with him
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced it was hosting Ashraf Ghani after the exiled president of Afghanistan fled the country.
“The UAE ministry of foreign affairs & international co-operation can confirm that the UAE has welcomed President Ashraf Ghani and his family into the country on humanitarian grounds,” the ministry said in a brief statement on Wednesday.
Ghani said on Wednesday that he had left Kabul to prevent bloodshed and denied reports he took large sums of money with him as he departed the presidential palace.
He has been bitterly criticised by former ministers for leaving the country suddenly as Taliban forces entered Kabul on Sunday.
“If I had stayed, I would be witnessing bloodshed in Kabul,” Ghani said in a video streamed on Facebook, his first public comments since leaving for the UAE.
“The Taliban have won,” he added.
He left on the advice of government officials, he added.
Reuters
SA has been in contact with several citizens in Afghanistan
IAN BREMMER: This is how US incompetence led to Afghanistan horror
Council of scholars will decide if girls can go to school, Taliban says
Ashraf Ghani was supposed to fix Afghanistan
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Taliban faces financial trouble as central bank’s $10bn mostly out of reach
Evacuation flights continue from Kabul airport
Afghans want out as the Taliban prepare to set up government
EU tells Taliban humanitarian aid will flow only if human rights are respected
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.