Afghanistan: Ghani in UAE; casualty reported in Jalalabad protest

Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who fled Afghanistan is in the United Arab Emirates as confirmed by the Gulf state’s foreign ministry.

“The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation can confirm that the UAE has welcomed President Ashraf Ghani and his family into the country on humanitarian grounds,” said the one-line statement.

Ghani had fled to central Asia and after being rejected by Tajikistan he went to Uzbekistan until he could get asylum in Europe or the United States. Ghani has been accepted by the UAE on humanitarian grounds.

A senior official from Ghani’s administration said the President had told them he was going on a foreign tour to hold meetings but fled instead.

One death has been reported in Jalalabad after people staged a protest against the replacement of the Afghan flag. Taliban fighters resorted to aerial firing and ended up firing directly after the locals tried to reinstate the Afghan flag at the city square.

It is unclear whether the Taliban would go after the protestors now and the situation is deteriorating as they may look to restore “order” after assuring the people they are safe from persecution and looting at the hands of the Taliban fighters.