- Title: Profile of embattled Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as Taliban enter Kabul
- Date: 15th August 2021
- Summary: Ghani cast his vote in the first round of the presidential elections, but results from the election would turn out to be inconclusive, leading to a second round of voting. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FILE - APRIL 5, 2014) (REUTERS) GHANI AND HIS RUNNING MATES AT REGISTRATION TABLE INDELIBLE INK ON GHANI'S FINGER GHANI TAKING BALLOT GHANI PLACING BALLOT IN BOX Ghani campaigned ahead of the run-off vote in the Afghan presidential elections. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FILE - JUNE 4, 2014) (REUTERS) GHANI AND HIS TEAM MEMBERS RAISING THEIR HANDS Ghani voted in the final run-off round of the Afghan presidential elections. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FILE - JUNE 14, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GHANI REGISTERING TO VOTE GHANI WALKING BEHIND CARDBOARD BOOTH AND TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO FOLLOW HIM GHANI HOLDING UP INKED FINGER AND WALKING AWAY AFTER PLACING BALLOT IN SEALED BOX Afghan protesters march through the streets of Kabul in support of Ghani's presidential rival, Abdullah Abdullah who dropped out of the election race over allegations of mass vote fraud. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FILE - JUNE 21, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING MAN SHOUTING Ghani called on his rival Abdullah Abdullah to rejoin the race, after he pulled out after alleging vote-rigging. A recount of all votes went ahead in July, a decision mediated by the U.S.. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FILE - JUNE 25, 2014) (REUTERS) GHANI WALKING TO PODIUM FOR NEWS CONFERENCE GHANI, SPEAKING U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets the top two Afghanistan presidential candidates in an attempt to negotiate a deal between the two rivals. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FILE - AUGUST 7, 2014) (REUTERS) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY AND GHANI SITTING DURING MEETING The two contenders for Afghanistan's presidency sign a deal for a power-sharing government at the presidential palace in Kabul. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (RECENT - SEPTEMBER 21, 2014) (REUTERS) THEN-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ABDULLAH ABDULLAH AND ASHRAF GHANI SITTING DOWN GHANI AND ABDULLAH SIGNING POWER SHARING AGREEMENT ABDULLAH AND GHANI HUGGING AND SHAKING HANDS
- Embargoed: 29th August 2021 13:16
- Keywords: Ashraf Ghani preliminary results presidential election slim majority
- Location: MAZAR-I-SHARIF, HERAT, KABUL, KUNDUZ, KHOJA GHAR, AFGHANISTAN / BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM/ WASHINGTON D.C., U.S. / RAWALPINDI, ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN/ MUNICH, GERMANY / BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN
- City: MAZAR-I-SHARIF, HERAT, KABUL, KUNDUZ, KHOJA GHAR, AFGHANISTAN / BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM/ WASHINGTON D.C., U.S. / RAWALPINDI, ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN/ MUNICH, GERMANY / BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN
- Country: Afghanistan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific
- Reuters ID: LVA003EQF26H3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Embattled Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was holding talks with the U.S. peace envoy and top NATO officials, a palace official said on Sunday (August 15) after Taliban fighters entered Kabul.
The arrival of the Taliban in the Afghan capital capped a lightning advance by the Islamist militants who were ousted from Kabul 20 years ago by U.S.-led forces after the Sept 11 attacks on the United States. A Taliban spokesman said in a statement that the group was in talks with the government for a peaceful surrender of the capital.
The collapse of the Afghan government defence has stunned diplomats - just last week, a U.S. intelligence estimate said Kabul could hold out for at least three months.
Power would be handed over to a transitional administration, the government's acting interior minister, Abdul Sattar Mirzakawal, said in a tweet on the Tolo news channel. "There won't be an attack on the city, it is agreed that there will be a peaceful handover," he said without elaborating.
On Saturday (August 14) Ghani addressed the nation for the first time since the Taliban takeover gained momentum and said he was in talks with various parties. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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