Ex-Afghan President Ghani given 'no more than two minutes' to flee Kabul

The former President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani said he was given "no more than two minutes" to get ready to flee Kabul in August, during the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country's capital.

Ghani said that his national security adviser informed him he must leave and that the departure was "really sudden," adding that it was "only when we took off, it became clear that we were leaving" Afghanistan.

"On the morning of that day, I had no inkling that by late afternoon, I will be leaving," Ghani said media.  

The Afghan authorities were initially informed that the Taliban fighters would not be entering Kabul, but "two hours later, this was not the case."

He was recounting the chaotic August weekend in which Taliban seized control of the country's capital at lightning speed.

Analysts had predicted Kabul would not be breached for weeks or months despite the militants' advances elsewhere in Afghanistan, but they ultimately took power in a matter of hours.

Later that month, a former senior official of Ghani detailed a vivid picture of the last weeks of his government, including how the former President and his advisers were stunned by the speed of the Taliban's advance.

"They said PPS has collapsed. If I take a stand, they will all be killed, and they will not be capable of defending me," he said.

Mohib, who was "literally terrified," did not give him "more than two minutes" to prepare to leave, Ghani said. Their initial plan to travel to Khost had fallen through after the city was taken, meaning Ghani did not know where they were headed when departing.

"Only when we took off did it become clear that we were leaving," he said.

Ghani, who has been residing in the United Arab Emirates, refuted allegations that he brought money with him overseas, saying he wanted to "categorically state" that he "did not take any money out of the country."

He added that the "helicopters in our first destination were available for everybody to search," welcoming the prospect of an inquiry by US Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko.

"I'd like an inquiry and as I suggested earlier, as soon as these allegations were raised by the United Nations, or an investigative firm, my style of life is known to everyone. What would I do with money? This is an accusation, particularly coming in the first part from Russia."

The former President partially attributed the country's downfall to his decision to trust "in our international partnership."