Ashraf Ghani said he would “fight to the death” the night before he fled Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said in an interview to Tolo News.
Former Afghan President Ghani fled to the UAE because the Western-backed government collapsed and also the Taliban raced through the country, overrunning 300,000 government troops, to require control of Kabul on August 15.
Mr Blinken was asked by Tolo journalist Lotfullah Najafizada: “Did you help President Ghani flee the country?”
The news outlet shared the video of his reply in a very tweet.
“What he (Ghani) told me in this conversation the night before he fled is that as he put it he was prepared to fight to the death,” said Mr Blinken.
Mr Ghani today put out an announcement apologizing to the people of Afghanistan for his exit and said he acted on the recommendation of the palace security.
“I owe the Afghan people an evidence for leaving Kabul abruptly on Assumption of Mary after Taliban unexpectedly entered town,” he wrote, adding that he had been warned that if he stayed, it might risk setting off the “horrific street-to-street fighting” that Kabul had suffered during the warfare of the 1990s.
He called leaving Kabul the foremost difficult decision of his life but asserted that it absolutely was the sole thanks to keep the guns silent and save Kabul and its citizens. He also denied allegations that he had taken legion dollars with him.
“It is with deep and profound regret that my very own chapter led to similar tragedy to my predecessors – without ensuring stability and prosperity. I apologise to the Afghan people who I couldn’t make it end differently,” Mr Ghani said in his statement daily after the Taliban announced a replacement interim government stuffed with hardliners, globally wanted terrorists and no women.
The US said it absolutely was “concerned” by the Taliban government, but would judge it by its actions.
According to agency AFP, Mr Blinken, within the virtual talks with 20 other nations including European allies, is probably going to do and prop up international pressure on the Taliban to form good on their promises.
