Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • World
  • Mid-East
  • Europe
  • Americas
  • Asia Pacific
  • Africa
  • Syrian Crisis
  • Islamophobia

Ghani apologizes, saying he had no intent to abandon Afghans

by Daily Sabah

ISTANBUL Sep 08, 2021 - 4:31 pm GMT+3
Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani gestures during his election campaign rally in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 13, 2019. (Reuters Photo)
Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani gestures during his election campaign rally in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sept. 13, 2019. (Reuters Photo)
by Daily Sabah Sep 08, 2021 4:31 pm
RECOMMENDED
Pakistan's Gen. Pervez Musharraf at the Joint Staff Headquarters, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Nov. 27, 2007. (Reuters Photo)

Pakistani ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf dies in Dubai exile

Pervez-Musharraf

Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country last month after the Taliban entered Kabul, apologized Wednesday to the Afghan people, lamenting, "I could not make it end differently."

Describing leaving Kabul as the most difficult decision of his life, Ghani claimed that he left the country to avoid the risk of bloody street fighting, and again denied stealing millions from the treasury. In a statement on Twitter, Ghani asserted that he left the country to "save Kabul and her 6 million citizens."

"I left at the urging of the palace security who advised me that to remain risked setting off the same horrific street-to-street fighting the city had suffered during the Civil War of the 1990s," Ghani said. "It was never my intent to abandon the people."

Wednesday's statement also sought to reject the allegation of corruption and deny claims the Afghan leader fled the country with millions of dollars. Ghani called the charges "completely and categorically false."

"Corruption is a plague that has crippled our country for decades and fighting corruption has been a central focus of my efforts as president," he said. "I inherited a monster that could not easily or quickly be defeated," he added, saying that his family has been "scrupulous" in their personal finances. "I have publicly declared all of my assets," the former president said, calling for an independent probe under the United Nations into his finances.

Hours after the news of Ghani's escape broke out on Aug. 15, when the Taliban entered the country's capital of Kabul and headed to the presidential palace to negotiate the transfer of power, the Russian Embassy claimed that the Afghan leader rushed to leave the country with cars and a helicopter full of cash. Previously, Ghani has also been accused of corruption by critics and activists.

"I offer my profound appreciation and respect for the sacrifice of all Afghans, especially our Afghan soldiers and their families, through the last forty years," Ghani said in the statement. "I apologize to the Afghan people ... (they have) never wavered and will guide me for the rest of my life."

The war between the Taliban and Afghan forces intensified as foreign troops announced their withdrawal from the country by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that led to the U.S. invasion. The Taliban unveiled its new interim government on Tuesday, nearly three weeks after it captured the country's capital and announced the power grab.

RECOMMENDED
Pakistan's Gen. Pervez Musharraf at the Joint Staff Headquarters, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Nov. 27, 2007. (Reuters Photo)

Pakistani ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf dies in Dubai exile

Pervez-Musharraf
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Sep 09, 2021 10:10 am
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    afghan crisis afghanistan ashraf ghani taliban
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    A Turkish Airlines aircraft is seen as a snow plow cleans runway at Istanbul Airport, Istanbul, Türkiye, Jan. 24, 2022. (DHA Photo)

    Over 200 flights cancelled in Istanbul due to expected snowstorm

    snowstorm
    A view of the rubble of a building hit by the earthquake in Pazarcık, Kahramanmaraş, Feb. 6, 2023. (AA Photo)

    Death toll rises to 1,541 after magnitude 7.7 quake rocks SE Türkiye

    EARTHQUAKE

    Gaziantep Castle collapses after magnitude 7.7 quake hit Türkiye

    EARTHQUAKE

    Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Gaziantep suspend flights after 7.7 earthquake

    EARTHQUAKE
    No Image
    Türkiye's Kaş offers majestic underwater adventures for divers
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021