Millions looted from Afghan government as Taliban took over

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — Tens of millions of dollars disappeared from Afghan government bank accounts during the Taliban takeover in August, according to a U.S. government watchdog report released Monday, the latest in a series detailing the collapse of the Afghan government and military.

The assessment by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) examined allegations that Afghan government officials took tens of millions of dollars with them as they fled the country. Former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani was accused of loading millions of dollars onto the helicopters that he and his close aides used to flee Kabul as Taliban fighters entered the city.

After the sudden military takeover of Afghanistan, reports emerged alleging Ghani stole over $150 million in government funds when he fled, feeding public anger with the former leader. Ghani’s departure is seen by many as the decisive event that allowed Taliban forces to walk into Kabul and take complete control of the country.

SIGAR found the theft of millions by Ghani “unlikely” but said the former president did leave with some cash, adding that “evidence indicates that this number did not exceed $1 million and may have been closer in value to $500,000.”

The report quotes one former senior official who fled with Ghani stating “everyone had $5,000 to $10,000 in their pockets. … No one had millions.” Ghani has repeatedly denied the allegations of theft.

SIGAR determined Ghani’s departure was sudden, not leaving the leader or his aides time to collect larger amounts of cash, and assessed that over $150 million in hundred-dollar bills “would have been difficult to conceal.” Ghani and many of those who fled with him now live in the United Arab Emirates.

Tens of millions remain unaccounted for. SIGAR found evidence of “$5 million taken from the presidential palace and tens of millions taken from the vault at the National Directorate of Security,” the former government’s main intelligence agency. The investigation has not determined whether the money was removed from the country by officials. “With Afghan government records and surveillance videos from those final days likely in Taliban hands, SIGAR is currently unable to determine how much money was ultimately stolen, and by whom,” the report said. The investigation into stolen Afghan assets is ongoing.

PETE MAROVICH/NEW YORK TIMES Former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani is among those believed to have taken money from government bank accounts before fleeing as the Taliban took over. But accounts of how much Ghani himself might have taken vary, and he has denied the allegations. Tens of millions of dollars remain unaccounted for, according to a U.S. watchdog.