President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan has stated that he left the country to avoid “bloodshed” after the Taliban took control of Kabul after nearly two decades of being deposed by a US-led invasion. As insurgents closed in on Afghanistan’s capital, Ghani departed before entering the city and seizing the presidential palace.
Ghani stated on Sunday that he was faced with a “difficult choice” between the “armed Taliban” and “leaving the dear country that I dedicated my life to protecting for the past 20 years.”
“The Taliban have won with the judgement of their swords and guns, and are now responsible for the honour, property and self-preservation of their countrymen,” Ghani said in a statement posted to Facebook. “They are now facing a new historical test. Either they will preserve the name and honour of Afghanistan or they will give priority to other places and networks,” he added, saying he left to prevent a “flood of bloodshed”.
“If left unchecked, countless patriots would be martyred and the city of Kabul would be devastated, resulting in a major humanitarian catastrophe in the six-million-strong city,” he said.
In a video message posted on Twitter, Abdullah Abdullah, the chairman of the Afghanistan Supreme National Reconciliation Council, addressed Ghani as the “former president” of Afghanistan. “I hope this ‘hard day and night’ passes quickly so that people can enjoy peaceful days,” Abdullah said, urging Afghans to remain calm.
Ghani’s departure from office during peace talks with the government was one of the Taliban’s main demands, but he refused. The insurgents have stated that they want a “peaceful transfer” to take place in the coming days.
As US and Nato forces prepared to leave Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly swept through the country, taking control of both rural and urban areas in a matter of weeks.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged the Taliban and all parties to “exercise restraint,” stressing the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls who suffered under the previous Taliban regime. The UN also announced that the Security Council would meet on Monday to discuss Afghanistan.
