Ashraf Ghani

In a statement released on Wednesday, Ghani called for a neutral organisation to probe the allegations against him. He reiterated that he left the country to thwart security threats against him and to avoid "bloodshed" in the country. Meanwhile, a number of political experts called for the launch of an investigation into Ghani.

"My wife and I have been scrupulous in our personal finances. I have publicly declared all of my assets. My wife's family inheritance has also been disclosed and remains listed in her home country of Lebanon. I welcome an official audit or financial investigation under UN auspices or any other appropriate independent body to prove the veracity of my statements here," Ghani said, as reported by Al Arabiya.

On Tuesday, the day the US forces left Afghanistan, Reuters released excerpts from the last call between Biden and Ghani before the Afghan president fled. The last phone call between Biden and Ghani was on July 23 and in these 14 minutes of conversation, according to the transcripts obtained by the Reuters, "Biden offered aid if Ghani could publicly project, he had a plan to control the spiralling situation in Afghanistan.

Ghani hastily abandoned Afghanistan earlier this month as the Taliban marched to power. He turned up in the United Arab Emirates, which accepted the president on humanitarian grounds. Fox News reported House Republicans are raising alarms over news reports that Ghani left Afghanistan with "duffle bags full of cash totaling $169 million."

In an exclusive interview with Geo News, senior Taliban leader Khalil ur Rahman Haqqani said "there is no enmity" between the group and Ghani, Saleh and former National Security Advisor, Hamdullah Mohib. "We forgive Ashraf Ghani, Amrullah Saleh and Hamdullah Mohib," said Haqqani, adding that enmity between the Taliban and the three was only on the basis of religion.

Hashmat Ghani, who is also head of the Grand Council of Kuchi (nomads) in Afghanistan, did not have any official position during the eight-year tenure of Ashraf Ghani. In a video clip aired from the ceremony in Kabul, it is seen that Hashmat Ghani is pledging allegiance to Khalil-ur-Rahman, a key member of the Taliban, Afghan media reported.

Ghani posted a video on Facebook clarifying the circumstances in which he had to leave Kabul amidst Taliban insurgency. Afghanistan's Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mohammad Zahir Agbar, had earlier claimed that President Ghani had "taken $169 million with him" when he fled Afghanistan.