Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani re-surfaces in the UAE

• President Ashraf Ghani had fled the country earlier

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who fled his country as its capital Kabul was being overtaken by Taliban fighters, is now in the United Arab Emirates, the UAE government has confirmed.

As the Taliban entered the presidential palace and declared the war “over,” Ghani said he fled to prevent “a flood of bloodshed.”

Afghanistan’s former President Ashraf Ghani is in the United Arab Emirates, its foreign ministry said in a statement Wednesday. News of his whereabouts comes days after he fled Kabul as the Taliban closed in on the city.

“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,” the UAE’s Foreign Ministry statement said.

Ghani left Afghanistan on Sunday evening, with no announcement or clear reporting on where he was going. As the Taliban entered the presidential palace and declared the war “over,” Ghani said he fled to prevent “a flood of bloodshed.”

“The Taliban have won with the judgment of their swords and guns, and are now responsible for the honor, property and self-preservation of their countrymen,” Ghani said.

Taliban forces made a series of stunning advances across the country of 39 million in the wake of the Biden administration announcing full departure of US forces by the end of August.

After 20 years of war, and US training and equipping of the Afghan military, the Taliban were able to declare complete control of the country within 10 days of seizing their first provincial capital.