Former Afghan president reports horror: How the Taliban Surrounded Me

Ashraf Ghani, in an interview for the BBC, said he woke up on August 15th and knew this would be his last day in Afghanistan.

Ghan was heavily charged and criticised for his decision to leave the country until it happens in the United Arab Emirates now.

As the day began, Ghan said, the Taliban agreed not to enter Kabul, “but two hours later, it was no longer that way”, he added.

Two different pieces of Taliban were approaching from two directions”, Ghan explained. “The possibility of a massive conflict between them would destroy the city with 5 million inhabitants”.

He agreed that a number of his relatives would leave Kabul, including his wife. Even his security adviser left until Ghan was waiting for a car to take him to the Ministry of Defense.

Car never came. Instead, his security adviser returned with the presidency's security chief and told Ghan that all “would be killed” if they stayed.

“did not give me more than two minutes”, Ghan said. I didn't know where we were going. Only when the plane left became clear that we were leaving Afghanistan. Everything was unexpected” he finished.

Taking power from the Taliban on August 15th marked the end of the foreign presence in Afghanistan for almost 20 years. The Taliban invaded the first provincial capital on August 6th. Two weeks later, they arrived at Kabul's door.

After surrounding the capital, Afghan President Ashraf Ghan left the country. A few hours later, the Taliban took control of the presidential palace.