US says Ghani 'no longer a figure in Afghanistan'

WASHINGTON

The US appeared to dismiss on Wednesday former President Ashraf Ghani's pledge to return to the country he fled amid the Taliban seizure of Kabul, saying he is "no longer a figure in Afghanistan."

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told reporters she has seen reports that Ghani arrived in the United Arab Emirates, saying "that is that."

Speaking in a video message released from the Emirates earlier Wednesday, Ghani vowed to return to Afghanistan to “continue his struggle for people's rights and values” after escaping Sunday.

“I am proud of our security forces, they have not been defeated, we were defeat on the political front. It was the failure of the government's leadership, the Taliban leadership and the international community. It was the failure of the peace process," he said.

"I wanted to transfer the power to the Taliban peacefully. But I was evicted from Afghanistan against my will," he claimed.

The war between the Taliban and Afghan forces intensified as foreign troops announced their withdrawal from the country by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that led to the US invasion.

The Taliban made rapid military advances in recent weeks and took control of the capital on Sunday as government forces fled or surrendered.

The US is evacuating its citizens and Afghans seeking refugee status from Afghanistan, is in control of Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. A top Biden administration official said Tuesday that the Taliban assured the US that it will not impede safe travel of Afghans and Americans seeking to flee.

But Sherman said that while the pledge has largely been upheld for US nationals, the hardline group appears to have violated its pledge vis-a-vis Afghans.

"We have seen reports that the Taliban, contrary to their public statements and their commitments to our government, are blocking Afghans who wish to leave the country from reaching the airport," she said.

"Our team in Doha, and our military partners on the ground in Kabul, are engaging directly with the Taliban to make clear that we expect them to allow all American citizens, all third-country nationals and all Afghans who wish to leave to do so safely and without harassment,” she added.