Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has reportedly applied for residency in the United Kingdom, while a political analyst who has known him for years has suggested that returning to Afghanistan could be a better option for him under the current circumstances.
Ghani left Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US forces and the Taliban’s return to power. Since his departure, the United States has not issued a formal position regarding its current relations or contacts with the former Afghan president.
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) had previously sought explanations from Ghani over allegations that he had taken a large amount of money with him when he left Afghanistan.
SIGAR’s investigation examined allegations of financial irregularities and the transfer of funds surrounding August 15, 2021, the day the Afghan Republic collapsed. According to a report published in August 2022, Ghani, through his lawyer, responded to only six of 56 questions submitted by the US oversight body.
However, witnesses interviewed by SIGAR did not support claims that Ghani had taken large amounts of cash or significant quantities of luggage with him aboard the helicopter. Ghani himself denied the allegations.
In an interview, the former president said he was willing to cooperate with any independent international or United Nations investigation into the matter.
Recent reports have indicated that Ghani has applied for residency in Britain. The UK Foreign Office and Home Office were contacted regarding the matter. The Foreign Office referred the issue to the Home Office, while the Home Office said it generally does not comment on individual cases.
Analyst Urges Ghani to Return to Afghanistan
Political analyst Tariq Farhadi, who has known Ghani for years, believes that considering his age and the current circumstances, returning to Afghanistan could be the better option for the former president.
Farhadi referred to the example of former Afghan King Amanullah Khan, who was forced to leave Afghanistan in 1929. Amanullah Khan later lived in British India and Italy before dying in Zurich in 1960.
According to Farhadi, Amanullah Khan spent decades outside Afghanistan and had little influence over developments inside the country during that period. He argued that the return and presence of former political leaders inside Afghanistan could help reduce the political and intellectual divide.
Farhadi also linked Ghani’s reported departure from the UAE to the broader regional security situation, saying that Ghani was given an opportunity to leave the country amid security concerns.
He suggested that wherever Ghani ultimately settles, he could potentially face restrictions on broader political activity.
