‘I thought it would be best to get out’, President Ashraf Ghani leaves, Taliban takeover Kabul

President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan fled the country as the Taliban entered Kabul, amidst severe criticism from his opponents, saying that now is not the time for him to leave his country as the dreaded Taliban come back to rule once more.

Ashraf left a note for his countrymen on social media, stating, “The Taliban have made it to remove me, they are here to attack all Kabul and the people of Kabul. In order to avoid the bleeding flood, I thought it was best to get out.”

“Taliban have won the judgement of swords and guns and now they are responsible for protecting the countrymen’s honour, wealth and self-esteem. Didn’t they win the legitimacy of hearts,” wrote Ashraf Ghani.

“Never in history has dry power given legitimacy to anyone and won’t give it to them. They are now facing a new historical test; either they will protect the name and honour of Afghanistan or they will prioritze other places and networks,” penned Ghani.

Ghani further added, “Many people and many Aqshar are in fear and are unreliable in the future. It is necessary for the Taliban to assure all the people, nations, different sectors, sisters and women of Afganistan to win the legitimacy and the hearts of the people. Make a clear plan to do and share it with the public.”

“I will always continue to serve my nation with an intellectual moment and a plan to develop. Lots more talk for the future. Long live Afghanistan,” said Ghani.

The Taliban declared that the war in Afghanistan was over after its fighters swept into the capital, Kabul, and President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on Sunday.

Ghani did not say where he had travelled to, but leading Afghan media group Tolo News suggested he had gone to Tajikistan.

Abdullah Abdullah, who heads the peace process, had earlier accused Ghani of “leaving the people to this situation”.

However, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday in a televised speech said that the remobilisation of Afghanistan’s armed forces was a “top priority”.

“As a historic mission, I will not let the imposed war on people cause more deaths,” said Ashraf Ghani.

“In the current situation, the remobilisation of our security and defence forces is our top priority, and serious steps are being taken in this regard,” he said on Saturday. A day later, he fled Afghanistan.