Ex-president Ashraf Ghani apologises for fleeing Kabul, says fled to save six million people in Afghan capital
"Leaving Kabul was the most difficult decision of my life," he said, adding that he was sorry he "could not make it end differently".
FollowAfghanistan’s former President Ashraf Ghani, who fled to the UAE before the Taliban blitz gaining power last month, issued a statement apologising to the people for leaving Kabul.
"Leaving Kabul was the most difficult decision of my life," he said, adding that he was sorry he "could not make it end differently".
"I owe the Afghan people an explanation for leaving Kabul abruptly on August 15 after Taliban unexpectedly enter the city. I left at the urging of the palace security who advised me that to remain risked setting off the same horrific street-to-street fighting the city had suffered during the Civil War of the 1990s," Ghani said in the statement that he shared on Twitter.
"I offer my profound appreciation and respect for the sacrifice of all Afghans, especially our Afghan soldiers and their families, through the last 40 years. It is with deep and profound regret that my own chapter ended in similar tragedy to my predecessors - without ensuring stability and prosperity," he concluded.
Ghani took the opportunity to deny the claims that he had taken millions of dollars out of the country when he fled, dismissed reports that he had left with millions of dollars in cash as “completely and categorically false.”
"My wife and I have been scrupulous in our personal finances. I have publicly declared all of my assets," he said, adding that he welcomes an official audit or financial investigation under UN auspices or any other appropriate independent body to prove the veracity of his statements.
The 72-year-old former president, who drew bitter criticism from former allies who accused him of betrayal said he would address the "events leading up to my departure" in the near future.
Meanwhile, the Taliban have finalised the government with Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, who is on a UN blacklist at the helm of affairs in Afghanistan. The interim cabinet also has Sirajuddin Haqqani, head of the dreaded Haqqani Network, who is wanted by the FBI.
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