Taliban invited Afghan President Ghani to return, promising amnesty

High-ranking Taliban leader Khalil ur Rahman Haqqani told Pakistani Geo TV that Saleh and Ghani can return to the country if they wish.

“We forgive Ashraf Ghani, Amrullah Saleh and (Afghan President’s Security Advisor) Hamdullah Mohib”, - RIA Novosti quoted Haqqani as saying.

In a TV interview, Haqqani said that the feud between the Taliban and the high-ranking Afghan politicians listed by him arose only on the basis of religion.

“We forgive everyone on our part, from the general (who fought against us) to the common man”, - Haqqani said.

A serious aggravation of the situation in Afghanistan began this spring, after the US authorities and the NATO leadership began to withdraw troops from the country.

Following the withdrawal of Western troops on the territory of Afghanistan, the Taliban * fighters became more active and launched a massive offensive. After occupying several provinces and gaining control over most of the borders, the Taliban attacked major cities and, finally, on August 15, occupied the capital of the state, Kabul. There they captured the largest state institutions and the presidential palace. President Ashraf Ghani and his family managed to escape with his family and closest associates.

Ghani said he left the country "to prevent the massacre". The entry of the Taliban into Kabul has caused panic among the population. Many rushed to the airport hoping to fly away. People tried to take by storm the last planes leaving the country. Panic and crush arose, resulting in human casualties. Some desperately clung to the chassis and died . The Taliban ordered local residents to return to work and banned civilian flights from Kabul airport.

After the president fled, the rebels declared that the war in Afghanistan was "over".

Once in the UAE, where he was granted asylum "for humanitarian purposes," Ghani promised that he would return to his homeland. During Ghani's absence, Vice-President Amrullah Saleh assumed power in the country. He did not accept the victory of the Taliban and called on the population to armed resistance to the invaders. Those, in turn, demanded that the population voluntarily surrender their weapons. Those who publicly opposed their authority were publicly executed.

* Terrorist organization banned in Russia