Mohammad Ashraf Ghani was once seen by many Afghans as a symbol of hope, knowledge, and state building. With his academic background, experience at the World Bank, and speeches filled with modern political language, he presented himself as a different kind of leader compared to Afghanistan’s traditional rulers. Many believed that after decades of war, Afghanistan would finally be led by an educated technocrat who could guide the country toward stability, economic growth, and order. Today, however, after the collapse of the republic and the return of the Taliban, a large number of Afghans consider him one of the main figures responsible for the national tragedy.
Recent reports claiming that Ashraf Ghani was expelled from the United Arab Emirates and is now living in Lebanon have once again brought his name back into public discussion. These reports surfaced shortly after his Eid message in which he stated that he had been prevented from speaking to the people for the past six months. A man who was once the president of Afghanistan now appears politically isolated and without a clear place in the future of Afghan politics. For many, this represents the complete collapse of a political project that once promised a new Afghanistan.
The greatest criticism against Ashraf Ghani is not only his escape on the day Kabul fell, but also the style of leadership he practiced throughout his presidency. Many politicians, military commanders, and even international allies repeatedly argued that Ghani failed to create national unity and consensus. Instead of building a broad and inclusive political team, power remained concentrated within a small inner circle. Many political figures felt excluded from major decisions, which increased the distance between the government and society.
While the Taliban were rapidly advancing across the country, Ghani’s government was weakened by mistrust, corruption, internal division, and poor management. Numerous reports indicated that many Afghan security forces had lost morale and coordination because they no longer felt supported by the leadership. Ghani later argued that the agreement between the United States and the Taliban, as well as the release of thousands of Taliban’s prisoners, severely weakened his government. However, his critics believe that a true leader does not abandon his country during its darkest moment.
Ashraf Ghani’s departure from Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, became the moment when many Afghans lost their final trust in the republic. On the very day Kabul was collapsing, the president left the country without addressing the nation, without officially transferring power, and without standing beside his people. This action shocked the security forces and destroyed what little morale remained within the government. Some former officials even accused him of destroying the last opportunity for a political transition of power.
At the same time, the collapse of Afghanistan cannot be blamed on one person alone. The role of the United States, the Doha agreement, widespread corruption, ethnic and political divisions, regional interference, and the weakness of state institutions were also major factors. Yet history often judges leaders based on how they act during defining moments. In Afghanistan’s most critical moment, many believe Ashraf Ghani failed to demonstrate the courage, leadership, and national responsibility that the country needed.
Today Afghanistan faces a dark and uncertain future. Millions of young people are hopeless, women have lost many of their basic rights, the economy remains weak, and migration continues on a massive scale. Many Afghans now look back and ask whether the country’s fate might have been different if its leadership had been more realistic, more inclusive, and closer to the people.
Ashraf Ghani may have been a man of knowledge, but knowledge without understanding society, without building trust, and without standing beside the people during times of crisis cannot save a nation. Afghanistan today continues to pay the price for leaders who failed to balance power, public trust, and the realities of the country they governed.
Noor Wodjouatt
