Latest News
Senior officials from previous govt ‘fled to luxury homes abroad’

As Afghanistan’s former government collapsed, in August last year, many senior officials in the Ashraf Ghani regime fled the country to luxurious homes they had purchased abroad ahead of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) takeover.
In a review of public documents and interviews, the Wall Street Journal on Monday stated that some officials who held top jobs during Ghani’s tenure, are now living in mansions along California’s coast and in major cities around the world.
Some of these former officials, including lawmakers, are also living in clusters in the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, WSJ reported.
This comes as thousands of Afghan evacuees struggle world-wide, and Afghans at home live in abject poverty.
According to the WSJ, an investigation was carried out by them to determine the whereabouts of dozens of Ghani’s cabinet officials, influential figures that made up his inner circle, and key lawmakers involved in security and foreign-policy matters.
Most were found to have relocated overseas, often in countries where publicly available property and company records are limited.
Ghani, who fled on the afternoon of August 15, initially stayed at the St. Regis Hotel in Abu Dhabi while his wife selected a private villa for their permanent residence that was provided by the Emiratis, the Journal reported. A spokesman for the UAE told the Journal that Ghani and his family were welcomed on humanitarian grounds, along with other Afghans fleeing the country.
Many of the former Afghan officials spoken to by the WSJ said they left because they feared retaliation from the IEA. However, the few that stayed behind, including former President Hamid Karzai and former CEO Abdullah Abdullah, have largely been left alone.
The WSJ reported that US public records offer a window into the lives of some former Afghan officials in America. Among them is Hamdullah Mohib, the ousted president’s closest ally and national-security adviser. Mohib fled Afghanistan with the president.
According to the report, Mohib has long held close connections to the US. His wife is American but he remained a British citizen through his time in office.
In an interview, Mohib said he had been concerned about security and his pregnant wife’s health, and had moved his family to the Shangri-La Hotel in Abu Dhabi, paid for by the UAE, before Kabul’s fall.
The UAE said it also provided accommodation on humanitarian grounds, the WSJ reported.
The family later moved to a four-bedroom home in Florida, on an attractive bay lined with palm trees, according to public records and confirmed by Mohib. The house is owned by his mother-in-law. Mohib said he owns no property under his name anywhere in the world.
US property and company records show that Eklil Hakimi, the president’s longtime finance minister and ally, bought at least 10 properties in California, including during Hakimi’s time in office, and after leaving in 2018, the Journal reported.
According to California property records, Hakimi and his wife’s properties include a five-bedroom home and pool, in a luxury Laguna Niguel community near the beach. It is worth $2.5 million, according to the real-estate company Zillow. In total, the 10 properties are worth more than $10 million. The couple’s latest acquisition, made early this year, was a $1.1 million beachfront South Cove condo in a new development in California, WSJ reported.
Afghanistan’s last finance minister, Khalid Payenda, owns two properties near Washington, DC, one of which was bought with cash, WSJ reported. Zillow shows them to be worth more than $1 million.
Former Afghan vice president, Abdul Rashid Dostum, is now in Turkey. WSJ reported that a local journalist posted a photo on Twitter that said it showed him receiving a guest at his residence in the expensive gated Or-An community in Ankara. It couldn’t be determined when Dostum purchased the home, and a spokesman for Dostum declined to comment, WSJ reported.
A database of Dubai property records reviewed by the Journal contained records for several high-profile former Afghan officials.
Ghani’s minister of economy, Mustafa Mastoor, owns a condo in a development on the Dubai Marina, according to Dubai records reviewed by the Journal.
Also in Dubai is the former powerful governor of Balkh province, Atta Mohammad Noor, who has moved to an apartment he owns, located in an expensive area of Dubai known as The Palm.
Latest News
Tajikistan calls for new border measures amid Afghanistan security concerns

Saimumin Yatimov, the head of Tajikistan’s State Committee for National Security, has raised concerns about the situation in Afghanistan and called for implementing new operational methods along the Afghan borders.
Speaking at the 56th meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Yatimov stated that the threat of international terrorism and the emergence of tension hotspots near the borders, particularly in Afghanistan, require new working strategies.
According to Russian media reports, Yatimov identified international terrorism as one of the main threats to the CIS countries.
However, the Islamic Emirate has not responded to these remarks. It has repeatedly dismissed such concerns as unfounded, emphasizing that it does not allow anyone to use Afghan soil for hostile purposes.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon was also present at the meeting and urged CIS member states to strengthen their security cooperation in light of growing regional challenges.
The 56th meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Special Services was held on Friday in Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital.
Member states of the council include Russia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, Turkmenistan participated in the meeting as an observer.
Latest News
Pakistan: Afghanistan’s India ties a bilateral issue, but its soil must not be used against us

Following first phone call between foreign ministers of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and India, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said on Friday that Islamabad refrains from commenting on the bilateral relations of other states.
“Afghanistan is a sovereign, independent country. We do not comment on what kind of relations it wants to pursue with other countries. It is Afghanistan’s sovereign right,” the spokesperson said in a press conference.
However, the spokesperson emphasized that regardless of the nature of Afghanistan’s relations with any third country, Pakistan expects IEA to ensure that Afghanistan’s soil is not used against Pakistan.
Last Thursday, for the first time, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held phone talks with IEA’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Latest News
Afghan justice minister to attend 13th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum

Acting Justice Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Abdul Hakim Sharei, left for Russia on Saturday to participate in the 13th St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.
The three-day conference will kick off on coming Monday and will be attended by ministers of justice, judicial officials and legal experts from various countries.
Acting Minister of Justice of the Islamic Emirate will deliver a speech on the nature of laws, the need for reforms in international law, ensuring justice and the role of the Islamic Emirate in international relations, the Ministry of Justice said in a statement.
-
International Sports5 days ago
IPL 2025: Tournament resumes Saturday
-
Science & Technology5 days ago
Saudi crown prince launches new company to develop AI technologies
-
Latest News4 days ago
Afghan delegation visits Tajikistan to advance CASA-1000 project
-
Regional4 days ago
Trump starts Gulf visit in Saudi Arabia, focus on mega economic deals
-
Latest News5 days ago
Trump administration to end protection program for Afghans
-
Latest News3 days ago
Pakistan and Afghanistan inaugurate ‘Friendship Hospital’ at Kharlachi border
-
World3 days ago
Israel intensifies Gaza bombardment, kills 80 people, as Trump visits Gulf
-
Latest News4 days ago
Uzbek and EU envoys meet, discuss Afghanistan