WEB DESK
The United Arab Emirates said that it is hosting Afghan president Ashraf Ghani “on humanitarian grounds”, after he fled his country amid a Taliban takeover.
“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,” it said in a brief statement.
Ghani fled Afghanistan on Sunday as the Taliban closed in on Kabul, before the insurgents walked into the Afghan capital unopposed.
In a Facebook post, Ghani said the “Taliban have won” and that he fled to avoid a “flood of bloodshed”.
His whereabouts were unknown until Wednesday, with speculation that he had fled to Tajiktan, Uzbejistan or Oman.
EU, US ‘deeply worried’ about Afghan women
The EU, US and 19 other countries issued a joint statement on Wednesday saying they were “deeply worried about Afghan women and girls”, urging the Taliban to ensure their safety.
The statement was released as concerns soared about the Taliban’s return to power after their 1996-2001 rule was characterised by a brutal interpretation of Islam that prevented Afghan women from working or studying, or travelling without a male “guardian”.
“We are deeply worried about Afghan women and girls, their rights to education, work and freedom of movement,” the joint statement said