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The Taliban has begun talks with former Afghan officials in an effort to form a government in Kabul. The group took hold of the country in just 10 days with little resistance. President Ashraf Ghani handed over power to a transitional government and left Kabul leaving residents in a state of chaos and fear. Meanwhile, the US and other countries have been ramping up evacuation efforts particularly for Afghans who had helped the US military and Nato forces.
President Ashraf Ghani has addressed the Afghan people from the UAE, saying his intent had been to work with the Taliban.
He defended his decision to leave Kabul, saying that had he stayed there, there would have been bloodshed in the capital. He added that he did not want Kabul to turn into a place similar to Syria or Yemen.
He said he left for the dignity of Afghanistan: "I had to leave Afghanistan to make sure a huge disaster was prevented."
Ghani has faced criticism for having left. Addressing his critics, he said: "To those who think I fled, my message is that you should not judge if you do not have the actual information and the details."
Ghani also addressed rumours that he left with a significant amount of money.
"I left with only one shalwar kameez with me," he said. "Those who say I took money are assassinating my character."
Ghani talked about the current negotiations between Afghanistan's former leaders Abdullah Abdullah, Hamid Karzai, and the Taliban.
"I support the current negotiations," he said. But he added that there had been a failure on everyone's part that the negotiations did not lead to anything. "The peace process should lead to the end of the war," he said.
The short address ended with one last message to the Afghan people: "Currently, I am in the UAE so that disasters are avoided. I am in consultation with others until I return, so I can continue my fight for justice for Afghans."
President Ashraf Ghani has addressed the Afghan people from the UAE, saying his intent had been to work with the Taliban.
He defended his decision to leave Kabul, saying that had he stayed there, there would have been bloodshed in the capital. He added that he did not want Kabul to turn into a place similar to Syria or Yemen.
He said he left for the dignity of Afghanistan: "I had to leave Afghanistan to make sure a huge disaster was prevented."
Ghani has faced criticism for having left. Addressing his critics, he said: "To those who think I fled, my message is that you should not judge if you do not have the actual information and the details."
Ghani also addressed rumours that he left with a significant amount of money.
"I left with only one shalwar kameez with me," he said. "Those who say I took money are assassinating my character."
Ghani talked about the current negotiations between Afghanistan's former leaders Abdullah Abdullah, Hamid Karzai, and the Taliban.
"I support the current negotiations," he said. But he added that there had been a failure on everyone's part that the negotiations did not lead to anything. "The peace process should lead to the end of the war," he said.
The short address ended with one last message to the Afghan people: "Currently, I am in the UAE so that disasters are avoided. I am in consultation with others until I return, so I can continue my fight for justice for Afghans."
