Ousted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled to UAE, country says

[left-of-center2012]

Source: NY Daily News

The United Arab Emirates confirmed Wednesday that it has welcomed former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his family after the ousted leader fled his country as the Taliban closed in on Kabul.

In a short statement to the media, the UAE’s ministry of foreign affairs said the Gulf nation accepted them into the country “on humanitarian grounds.” The announcement ends days of speculation about Ghani’s location as multiple reports suggested he’d sought refuge in Tajikistan and Oman.

The 72-year-old politician, who had been in power since 2014, quietly left Afghanistan on Sunday while his government quickly collapsed at the hands of the Taliban. The militants met little resistance as they stormed into Kabul and took control of the presidential palace following the capture of numerous cities in just a matter of days.

After fleeing, Ghani said in a Facebook post that he had left the capital to avoid bloodshed. The hasty escape ruined any chances of a smooth transition of power to the Taliban and turned the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan a chaotic operation.

Read more: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/ny-ousted-afghan-president-ashraf-ghani-fled-united-arab-emirates-20210818-o5tvowqpyzf5fe2ns6hezbqyfi-story.html

[NCjack]

1. I hope that ex-Pres. Ghani delivered the US money that he rescued from the Taliban to the

American Embassy.

[left-of-center2012]

2. ... left with $169 million in cash stuffed in bags.

The Afghan ambassador in Tajikistan told BBC News that Ghani left with $169 million in cash stuffed in bags.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/ex-afghan-president-ashraf-ghani-now-in-united-arab-emirates?ref=home

[onetexan]

4. wonder where he got that $169M...embezzled from American funds for his country that he abandoned

like a coward?

[peppertree]

7. And the opium trade

Which after 2001, became Afghanistan's top export by far.

So much so, they became the world's top source for illicit opium - although lately they've had stiff competition from that other "staunch ally" of ours: Colombia.

[TheBlackAdder]

5. It just so happens that the UAE charges $150M for 'humanitarian' sheltering. 🤣

.

Can't leave the guy completely broke.

.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Where's Jared? /nt

[Ford_Prefect]

8. It's rumored he's making plans but has no exit strategy yet since no one will let him

out of his time share contract.

[PSPS]

9. LOL. "quietly left Afghanistan" means "scurried away with all the US taxpayer money he could carry"

[Kid Berwyn]

10. Tom Barrack, uh, allegedly worked for UAE.

Wealth Management needs wealth to manage, like a sovereign wealth fund or the occasional helicopter full of cash.

[rpannier]

11. to avoid bloodshed

His

[Martin68]

12. He arranged that a year ago.