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UAE says Afghanistan's ex-president Ghani welcomed on "humanitarian grounds"

Aug. 18, 2021 01:45PM EST
 Dan Ackermann

The United Arab Emirates' foreign ministry confirmed in a statement Wednesday that the UAE has welcomed former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and his family into the country on "humanitarian grounds."

Why it matters: Ghani fled Afghanistan on Sunday as the Taliban closed in on Kabul, precipitating the collapse of the Afghan government. His whereabouts had previously been unknown.

  • "Today I faced a tough choice — to stand up to the Taliban who wanted to enter the Citadel or leave my country that I have devoted the last 20 years to protecting," Ghani wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.
  • "If I had stayed, it would have resulted in the martyrdom of many citizens and the destruction of Kabul."

This story is breaking news. Please check back for updates.

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