On Wednesday, Ashraf Ghani, who was welcomed by the United Arab Emirates, posted his first message on Facebook since the fall of Kabul, clarifying several points, including the allegation that he left Kabul with four cars and a helicopter loaded with cash. Ghani said in a video message that these claims are false because he was forced to flee to avoid bloodshed. He didn’t even have time to change his shoes, and he left Kabul wearing the same sandals he wore to the Presidential palace on Sunday.
“Do not believe whoever tells you that your president sold you out and fled for his own advantage and to save his own life,” he said adding, “These accusations are baseless… and I strongly reject them.”
“I was expelled from Afghanistan in such a way that I didn’t even get the chance to take my slippers off my feet and pull on my boots,” he said.
After the Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday and declared an unopposed victory, the UAE said it is hosting Ghani on ‘humanitarian grounds.’
In a brief statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said, “The UAE has welcomed President Ashraf Ghani and his family into the country on humanitarian grounds.” His whereabouts were unknown between Sunday and Wednesday, according to reports that he had fled to Oman, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, or Lebanon.
‘Expelled, not fled’
Ghani said he had no intention of remaining in exile in Dubai and was in talks to return home. He said he was expelled from Afghanistan and had he stayed in Kabul, then he would have been hanged. “Had I stayed there, an elected president of Afghanistan would have been hanged again right before the Afghans’ own eyes,” he said.
‘The Taliban agreed not to enter Kabul.’
Ghani claimed that the Taliban had entered Kabul despite a cease-fire agreement. He also claimed that despite his support for a peaceful power transition, he was expelled from Afghanistan. He expressed his support for the talks between the Taliban and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and senior official Abdullah Abdullah, saying he hopes the process succeeds.
Ghani is no longer a household name in Afghanistan: United States of America
Following Ashraf Ghani’s announcement that he wants to return to Afghanistan, the US stated that he is not a player in Afghanistan. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told reporters, “He is no longer a figure in Afghanistan.”
