UAE says Ghani taken in on ‘humanitarian grounds’ after he fled Afghanistan as the Taliban took over the country
The United Arab Emirates is hosting President Ashraf Ghani “on humanitarian grounds”, after he fled Afghanistan amid the Taliban’s takeover, the Gulf nation has confirmed.
“The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 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
Earlier, Afghan media outlets reported that the UAE offered Ghani a residence after his “escape”.
His whereabouts were unknown until Wednesday, with speculation that he had fled to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan or Oman.
Speaking from exile in the UAE, 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.
Ghani has been bitterly criticised by former ministers for leaving the country suddenly as Taliban forces entered Kabul on Sunday unopposed.
“If I had stayed, I would be witnessing bloodshed in Kabul,” Ghani said in a video streamed on his Facebook page, his first public comments since it was confirmed he was in the UAE.
He left on the advice of government officials, he added.
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