UAE confirms receiving former Afghan President Ghani

ANKARA

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday confirmed receiving former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his family.

In a Foreign Ministry statement, it said the country welcomed Ghani on "humanitarian grounds."

Earlier, Afghan media outlets reported that the UAE offered Ghani a residence after his "escape."

The capital Kabul fell to the Taliban after the Afghan government collapsed amid the Taliban's dizzying advances that prompted Ghani to flee the country.

There were scenes of panic and chaos at the Kabul airport on Monday as desperate residents tried to flee the war-torn country. Deaths were reported as some clung to planes flying out of the capital.

This spring, 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.

With the collapse of the Afghan government, attention is turning to ensure the safety of civilians and evacuees and an orderly transfer of power.

The Taliban have declared the war in Afghanistan is over and said efforts to form an inclusive government are underway.