Apologies From Abu Dhabi

Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 15 as Taliban* militants took over the war-torn country's capital. Zahir Aghbar, Afghanistan's ambassador to Tajikistan, alleged some days later that Ghani "stole $169 million from the state coffers" amid his exit.

Ghani, who is presently in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi, took to social media on September 8 to issue an explanation and apology for "leaving Kabul abruptly" when Taliban militants stormed the city last month.

"Leaving Kabul was the most difficult decision of my life, but I believed it was the only way to keep the guns silent and save Kabul," he said, arguing that he never intended to abandon Kabul's "6 million citizens."

Statement 8 September 2021 pic.twitter.com/5yKXWIdLfM

— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) September 8, 2021

The former Afghan president also took time to address the "categorically false" accusation that he made off with nearly $170 million that belonged to the Afghan people.

"I welcome an official audit or financial investigation under UN auspices or any other appropriate independent body to prove the veracity of my statements here," he declared.

*The Taliban is listed as a terrorist organization by the United Nations in UNSCR 1267