The UAE confirmed that it received Afghan President Ashraf Ghani “on humanitarian grounds”, after he fled his country amid a Taliban takeover.
“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 published by WAM.
In a video message on Wednesday — his first appearance since leaving Kabul, Ghani said he hopes to return home, and supports talks between the Taliban and top former officials.
“For now, I am in the Emirates so that bloodshed and chaos is stopped,” he said, noting that he had “no intention” to remain in exile. I am currently in talks to return to Afghanistan.”
Ghani added that he supports talks between the Taliban and former president Hamid Karzai, which happened on Wednesday.
He also quashed rumors that he left the country with millions of dollars.
“I left with just a waistcoat and some clothes. The personality assassination against me has been ongoing, saying that I have taken money with me,” Ghani said in the video.
“The accusations are baseless lies. You can even ask customs officials – they are baseless.”
Taliban leaders have said they have “pardoned all former government officials”, according to the monitoring group SITE.
