Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani left the country today, joining his fellow citizens and foreigners in a stampede fleeing the advancing Taliban and signaling the end of a 20-year Western experiment aimed at remaking Afghanistan.
Ghani’s departure comes amid negotiations for a peaceful transfer of power after Taliban fighters encircled Kabul.
The president’s office told Reuters news agency it “cannot say anything about Ashraf Ghani’s movement for security reasons”.
Meanwhile, a Taliban official told Reuters they were checking reports about Ghani’s departure from the country.
Taliban troops surrounded Kabul today (15) but promised not to attack. The group said it has instructed its fighters to refrain from violence and offer safe passage to anyone wishing to leave Kabul.
