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Anas Haqqani says Ghani’s exit forced rapid takeover of Kabul
As Afghanistan approaches the fourth anniversary of the Islamic Emirate’s return to power, senior member Anas Haqqani has said the movement initially intended to enter Kabul through a negotiated settlement aimed at maintaining normal diplomatic relations with the international community.
However, he claimed, the sudden departure of former President Ashraf Ghani upended that plan and triggered a swift military entry into the capital.
In a recent interview, Haqqani said the leadership had been pursuing “serious efforts” for a peaceful transfer of power, underpinned by “extensive diplomacy” to reassure foreign governments. But the announcement of Ghani’s escape on August 15, 2021, created an immediate security vacuum.
“His departure created a power vacuum, looters began raiding, and chaos unfolded. The situation demanded our entry into Kabul,” Haqqani said, adding that the decision was made to prevent instability from spiraling.
Haqqani also revisited the 2020 Doha Agreement signed between the Islamic Emirate and the United States, describing it as “a symbol of U.S. defeat.”
While the IEA’s leadership believed the U.S. would eventually withdraw, he said there were lingering fears of a last-minute reversal, particularly with the impending U.S. presidential transition from Donald Trump to Joe Biden.
We wanted to secure their signature in front of the world, Haqqani said adding that that signature represented the U.S and NATO’s defeat and exit, even though they labeled it a peace agreement.
According to Haqqani, the Kabul-appointed negotiating team at intra-Afghan talks appeared to deliberately stall in hopes that a change in U.S. leadership would lead to the agreement’s cancellation.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regained control of Kabul on August 15, 2021, as IEA members reached the outskirts of Kabul. Ghani, who fled the country in a military helicopter, said later he left to avoid bloodshed.
Since then, the Islamic Emirate has faced sanctions, frozen assets, and a lack of formal recognition, with its policies—particularly restrictions on women’s rights—remaining a key sticking point in international engagement. The only country that has officially recognized the IEA government is Russia.
The cabinet of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) has approved a report on the spending of the national development budget, following deliberations at its 14th meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund.
According to a statement issued by the Arg on Tuesday, the cabinet endorsed the development budget expenditure report and instructed relevant ministries and departments to ensure that allocated funds are spent on planned projects in a timely manner and in line with approved development plans.
The meeting also reviewed a range of key economic, social and cultural issues. Cabinet members emphasized the need for proper implementation of development activities and adherence to established timelines.
In addition, discussions were held on challenges facing refugees, with relevant authorities directed to identify and implement appropriate solutions to address their concerns.
Sadin Ayyıldız, the new head of Turkey’s diplomatic mission in Kabul, met in an introductory visit with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate, to discuss the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, Ayyıldız described relations between Afghanistan and Turkey as positive and emphasized the expansion of cooperation in economic and health fields, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Muttaqi also wished Ayyildiz success, described Turkey as a close friend of Afghanistan, and assessed bilateral relations as being on a path of progress.
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Afghan, Indonesian sports officials discuss expanding cooperation
Indonesian officials said the deputy minister plans to visit Afghanistan in the future to further advance cooperation.
Ahmadullah Wasiq, head of Afghanistan’s National Olympic and Physical Education Committee, met Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Taufiq Hidayat, during an official visit to Indonesia held alongside the Asian Cup competitions.
The talks focused on strengthening sports cooperation, including improving access for Afghan athletes living in Indonesia to local leagues and training camps.
Hidayat described the meeting as a positive step toward closer sporting ties and stressed the need for continued engagement.
Afghanistan’s ambassador to Indonesia, Saadullah Baloch, also attended the meeting, highlighting the role of sports diplomacy in bilateral relations. Indonesian officials said the deputy minister plans to visit Afghanistan in the future to further advance cooperation.
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