Ashraf Ghani denies fleeing Afghanistan with cash; 'only my clothes; not even my books'

Afghanistan's deposed President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday shared a video dressing his nation and world, first since Taliban gained control of Kabul.  longstanding war in Afghanistan reached a watershed moment on Sunday when Taliban insurgents closed in on Afghanistan's capital Kabul and entered city and took over presidential palace, but it turned out that Ashraf Ghani h fled some time before that, even though his or senior government officials, namely FVP Amrullah Saleh and Chairperson for National Reconciliation Dr Abdullah Abdullah are still in Afghanistan.

dressing various developments including reports of fleeing from Afghanistan with four cars and a helicopter brimming with money, Ashraf Ghani issued a fervent denial and stated that he only left with his 'Salwar Kameez' and 'Waistcoat' and without even his prized books. 

"I h to leave Afghanistan without my books, who were my main assets. Some confidential docs unfortunately left at prez palace, y are in hands of ors, I left with nothing but Salwar Kameez and waistcoat, did not take anything with me. Those saying I went with money with me is completely baseless," said Ashraf Ghani in his dress. 

'Kabul should not be turned into Syria': Ashraf Ghani

Ghani, in a video dress in Pashto, reiterated why he left Kabul at a time when Taliban's atrocities were at its peak. As per Ghani, he h left security in hands of country's forces, and that Taliban h been searching for him.

"On Sunday I was following a routine schedule. I was working on law and order. My security officials warned me to keep away from circumstances. My security forces took everything into ir hand. H I stayed In Kabul I would have witnessed bloodshed. Kabul should not turn into Yemen or Syria," said Ghani. 

Ashraf Ghani on government formation process in Afghanistan

Key political leers such as Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah met Anas Haqqani on Wednesday. Former Afghanistan President Karzai has formed a Coordination Council along with High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan chairman Abdullah Abdullah and former Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. However, talks between two sides were stuck owing to certain "unacceptable conditions" imposed by Taliban.

On ongoing talks over new government process in Afghanistan, Ghani said, "I support current negotiations happening under Dr. Abdullah, I thank security forces. re was a failure on our parts."

Notably, former Vice President Amrullah Saleh on Tuesday has come forward to claim that he is 'legitimate caretaker President' of Afghanistan. Taking to Twitter, Amrullah Saleh cited protocols mentioned in Constitution of Afghanistan, as per which in case of absence, escape, resignation, or death of serving President, Former Vice President becomes caretaker President. Saleh has issued a clarion call for a resistance against Taliban.

demand for Ashraf Ghani's arrest

Ghani's video message came on same day that Afghanistan’s Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammi urged Interpol on August 18 to arrest former President of country for “selling out morland” as latter chose to flee country amid Taliban crisis.

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Mohammi said that government official who chose to "sell out morland" should be “punished and arrested”, while ding hashtag #InterpolArrestGhani. Earlier, Afghan embassy in Tajikistan also requested Interpol to detain Ghani over embezzlement charges.

(Image Credits: AP/Unsplash)