Former Officials Announce Afghanistan Govt In Exile Led By Amrullah Saleh: Report

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the only legitimate government of Afghanistan that is elected by the votes of people, reads a statement released by the Afghan embassy in Swiss.

Vice President of Afghanistan Amrullah Saleh. (File Photo/ AFP)

Kabul: Former Afghan officials, who fled the country along with President Ashraf Ghani after the Taliban takeover, have announced the continuation of the Afghan government in exile headed by former vice-president Amrullah Saleh.

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the only legitimate government of Afghanistan that is elected by the votes of people, reads a statement released by the Afghan embassy in Swiss.

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The statement adds no other government can replace a legitimate one.

Stating that Afghanistan has been occupied by external factors, the statement reads they decided to announce government in exile based on the historic responsibility of the Afghan government after consultations with the elders of the country.

“After the escape of Ashraf Ghani and his rupture with the Afghan politics, his first vice-president (Amrullah Saleh) will be leading the country,” reads the statement, The Khaama Press News Agency reported.

The three powers of the government namely executive, judicial and legislative will be activated soon, the statement adds.

The statement, written and released by the leaders of the previous government, political leaders and other politicians, has also announced their support to the resistance front - the anti-Taliban front led by Ahmad Masoud.

The statement added that all the embassies and consulates of Afghanistan will be functional as normal.

The name of none of the leaders of the previous government, political leaders and other politicians has, however, been disclosed in the statement.

The Taliban seized control of the country in mid-August.