Afghanistan: Ex-President Ashraf Ghani defends escape from Taliban

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Afghan Ex-President Ghani: "I left because I didn't want to give the Taliban and their supporters the pleasure of humiliating an Afghan President again"

Photo: HEDAYATULLAH AMID/EPA

A year after the militant Islamist Taliban returned to power, former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has defended his flight from the country.

"I left because I didn't want to give the Taliban and their supporters the pleasure of humiliating an Afghan president again," he told US broadcaster CNN in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

At that time, the entire protection force of the president had disbanded and put on civilian clothes, according to Ghani.

The defense minister also fled.

"I was the last to leave," he said.

Ghani fled abroad on August 15, 2021.

Within hours that day, the city fell to the radical Islamist Taliban, who have ruled the country ever since.

Since returning to power following the withdrawal of international troops, most notably the United States, the Taliban have restricted women's basic rights and suppressed protests against them.

No country has yet recognized their de facto government.

Yesterday, just before the first anniversary of the Taliban taking power, women took to the streets to denounce the imposed restrictions on their rights to education, work and freedom of movement.

The Taliban ended the peaceful protest with warning shots.

Also on Saturday, four people, including two Taliban, were injured when a bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded in western Kabul, a security official told Tolo News.

It was initially unclear who was behind the incident.

The terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS), which is hostile to the Taliban, has repeatedly carried out attacks in the country.

asa/dpa