Ashraf Ghani Leaves Afghanistan As Taliban Seeks Peaceful Transfer Of Power In 'Next Few Days'

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has reportedly left the country along with his associates as the Taliban seeks peaceful transfer of power in "next few days".

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (File Pic)

New Delhi: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has left the country for Tajikistan, a senior interior ministry official said on Sunday as reported by news agency Reuters.

Former President Hamid Karzai has meanwhile assured the people in a message that he will stay in the country. He is urging people to stay home and is trying to resolve the issue through dialogue, TOLO news reported.

Ashraf Ghani has left Afghanistan along with his close aides, the Afghanistan-based news platform reported sources as saying.

Reportedly, sources close to the Taliban said that the group agreed for Ghani to resign after a political agreement, followed by handing over the power to a transitional government.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has said that in order to prevent looting and chaos their forces will enter some parts of Kabul and occupy outposts that have been evacuated by security forces, TOLO news reported. He asked the people to not panic over their entrance into the city.

Earlier, a Taliban spokesperson told the BBC that the group wants to take control of Afghanistan "in the next few days".

"In the next few days, we want a peaceful transfer," Suhail Shaheen who is based in Qatar and is a part of the group's negotiating team, told the BBC.

Taliban insurgents on Sunday entered the outskirts of the capital city causing panic and fear among the residents.

In a matter of days, the Taliban swept through major parts of Afghanistan, seizing control of around 25 of the 34 provincial capitals, including key cities such as Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif and Jalalabad.

The Afghan Presidential Palace had gone on Twitter to assure that the situation is under control in Kabul and it has not been attacked, albeit instances of sporadic gunshots have been reported.

It stated the Afghan security forces are working with their international partners to ensure the security of Kabul.

"Kabul has not been attacked. The country's security and defence forces are working together with international partners to ensure the security of the city and the situation is under control," the statement in Pashto informed.

Earlier today, Associated Press quoted an Afghan official as saying that the Taliban negotiators were heading to the presidential palace to prepare for a "transfer" of power.