Former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani fled with $169 million in his cash-stuffed vehicles and helicopter and has been given asylum in Dubai on humanitarian grounds, according to the country’s ambassador.  

Mr Ghani left Afghanistan the country on Sunday night as the Taliban took control of Kabul, saying in a Facebook post that he took the decision to avoid bloodshed.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan’s provinces within a week, as the United States and coalition forces intensified evacuation from the country.

The former president took with him four cars and a helicopter loaded with bags of cash, and some of the cash haul had been left on the tarmac as it would not all fit on the flight. Nikita Ishchenko, a spokesman for the Russian embassy in Kabul, said “four cars were full of money, they tried to stuff another part of the money into a helicopter, but not all of it fit. And some of the money was left lying on the tarmac.”

Afghanistan Ambassador to Tajikstan Mohammed Zahir Aghbar said at a press conference in Dushanbe on Wednesday that Mr Ghani stole $169 million in cash. He called on Interpol to arrest him for betraying his country and looting its commonwealth.

While initial reports said Mr Ghani had fled to Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates said on Wednesday that it was hosting the fleeing Afghan leader in Dubai “on humanitarian grounds.”

“The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation can confirm that the UAE has welcomed President Ashraf Ghani and his family into the country on humanitarian grounds,” the country said in a statement carried by Sharjah-based outlet UAE Barq.