Official says President Ghani has left Afghanistan; NATO maintains presence in Kabul

KABUL — A senior Afghan Interior Ministry official on Sunday said President Ashraf Ghani had left Kabul for Tajikistan as Taliban insurgents entered Afghanistan's capital, capping the militants' lightning push for power.

Asked for comment, the president's office it "cannot say anything about Ashraf Ghani's movement for security reasons."

A representative of the Taliban said the group was checking on Ghani's whereabouts.

A NATO official also told Reuters on Sunday that the organization is maintaining its diplomatic presence in Kabul and helping to keep the city's airport running.

"NATO is constantly assessing developments in Afghanistan," the official said, adding the security of the alliance's personnel was paramount and NATO would continue to adjust as necessary.

The official did not respond to questions on whether NATO planned to hold a crisis meeting to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

Taliban insurgents entered Kabul on Sunday and said they expected to take power within days.

After almost two decades, NATO this summer completed military operations in Afghanistan and withdrew most troops from the country.

The alliance still operates a diplomatic representation in Kabul. A NATO spokesperson on Friday declined to provide details on the representation, citing security concerns, in response to a Reuters request.

Headquartered in Brussels, NATO also serves as a forum to coordinate national measures in Afghanistan, such as the evacuation of citizens that was discussed by NATO ambassadors on Friday. — Reuters