Advertisement
Ex-Afghan president Ashraf Ghani says he was given ‘minutes’ to flee Kabul
- Ghani in his BBC interview also denied widespread accusations that he left the country with millions in stolen money
- The former leader, who abruptly fled the capital on August 15 as the Taliban closed in, rejected a deal was in the works for a peaceful takeover
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
3
Afghanistan’s former president said he had no choice but to abruptly leave Kabul as the Taliban closed in and denied an agreement was in the works for a peaceful takeover, disputing the accounts of former Afghan and US officials.
Advertisement
Ashraf Ghani said in a BBC interview that aired on Thursday that an adviser gave him just minutes to decide to abandon the capital city. He also denied widespread accusations that he left Afghanistan with millions in stolen money.
Ghani’s sudden and secret departure on August 15 left the city rudderless as US and Nato forces were in the final stages of their chaotic withdrawal from the country after 20 years.
“On the morning of that day, I had no inkling that by late afternoon I would be leaving,” Ghani told BBC radio.
05:29
100 days since Taliban return to power in Afghanistan: What has changed since US withdrawal?
100 days since Taliban return to power in Afghanistan: What has changed since US withdrawal?
His remarks conflicted with other accounts.
Advertisement
Advertisement