Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaks during a press conference following his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC, Aug.
Ken Cedeno | Reuters
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who fled his country when the capital Kabul was overtaken by Taliban fighters, is now in the United Arab Emirates, the UAE government has confirmed.
“The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation can confirm that the United Arab Emirates welcomed President Ashraf Ghani and his family to the country on humanitarian grounds,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement early Wednesday evening local time.
Ghani left Afghanistan on Sunday evening with no announcement or clear reporting on where he was going. When the Taliban entered the presidential palace and declared the war “over”, Ghani said he had fled to prevent “a flood of bloodshed”.
“The Taliban won the judgment of their swords and weapons and are now responsible for the honor, property and self-preservation of their compatriots,” said Ghani.
Taliban forces made a series of formidable forays across the country of 39 million after the Biden administration announced the full withdrawal of US forces by the end of August.
After 20 years of war and US training and equipping the Afghan military, the Taliban were able to declare complete control of the country within 10 days of capturing their first provincial capital.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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