Ousted Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday denied allegations that he carried a large amount of money while leaving the country.
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.
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Ghani, who was welcomed by the United Arab Emirates after he was ‘expelled’ from Afghanistan, posted his first-ever message since fleeing. He dismissed a claim that accused him of flying with 4 cars and a helicopter stuffed with cash.
He added that he was forced to leave Kabul in such a hurry that he had no time to even change his shoes.
Ghani then went ahead and dismissed the accusations that targeted him for leaving his own country and its citizens deserted.
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"Do not believe whoever tells you that your president sold you out and fled for his own advantage and to save his own life," he said adding, "These accusations are baseless... and I strongly reject them."
"I was expelled from Afghanistan in such a way that I didn't even get the chance to take my slippers off my feet and pull on my boots," he said.
The External Affairs Ministry of UAE issued a statement regarding Ghani’s stay and said that it is hosting the Afghan President and his family on ‘humanitarian ground’.
After the Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday and declared an unopposed victory, many embassies, politicians and local citizens have been airlifted. This has also resulted in a refugee spike around the world.
However, Ghani said that he had no intentions of staying in exile in Dubai and wishes to return to his home as soon as possible. He also clarified that he was expelled and did not fly out. "Had I stayed there, an elected president of Afghanistan would have been hanged again right before the Afghans' own eyes," he said.
Ghani said that the Taliban entered Kabul despite an agreement not to do so. Meanwhile, he also backed the talks that are ongoing between former president Hamid Karzai and senior official Abdullah Abdullah and Taliban said he wants the success of the process.
Interestingly, the United States has already concluded that Ghani is no longer a ‘player in the Afghan scenario. He is no longer a figure in Afghanistan," Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told reporters.
